A trip to Packhorse Hut: The closest DOC hut to Christchurch
I really liked the look of the hut when I came up here earlier in the year and decided I would come back when I had a chance to stay overnight.  |
Kaituna Valley car park- start of the track
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I had a Thursday/Friday to spare so set out to re visit the historic hut.
Day 1: Kaituna Valley car park to Packhorse Hut
The Port Hills - Banks Peninsula are basically in my back yard and I am keen to explore some of the tracks which cross them. Packhorse Hut is one of only three DOC huts on Banks Peninsula, so most trips here are by necessity day trips.
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| DOC track sign in the Kaituna Valley |
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| Kaituna Valley - Packhorse Hut Track |
It was misty on the day I set out, I arrived at the Kaituna Valley car park around 11 am and after securing the car set off along the track. The track starts out crossing farm land but then joins an old 4W/D track which sidles up to just near the hut. It is a very easy track to follow.
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| Kaituna Valley - Packhorse Hut Track: Misty farm track |
At a couple of points you move through bush remnants, the mist added a certain spooky nature to the climb.
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| Kaituna Valley - Packhorse Hut Track: Moving through bush remnants |
The track climbs a spur for most of its length, technically it is very easy, but there are a couple of steep sections that require a bit of exertion. The distance from the parking area to the hut would only be 5 kms. It is a two hour trip to reach the hut.
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| Kaituna Valley - Packhorse Hut Track: Track ascending hill |
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| View of a mist shrouded Kaituna Valley from the track to Packhorse Hut |
As you gain height your view out to the South improves, eventually you can see the coast in the far distance, although it was mist covered on this day.
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| View to South West on the Kaituna Valley Track |
After about an hour you come into view of the hut perched on the saddle, it is a good location but I imagine the wind could be fierce here in a North Westerly. For those not from Canterbury, a North Westerly wind or Nor' Wester often brings (very) strong winds to the east coast of the South Island. During a recent storm wind gusts of 200kmph were recorded on top of Mt Herbert just to the east of this hut.
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| Kaituna Saddle: Packhorse Hut in middle |
View from the Kaituna Saddle of Lyttleton harbour and the cloud covered Port Hills, The land in the centre of the harbour is Quail Island, an excellent place to go for a day trip on the Lyttleton ferry.
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| Cloudy Lyttleton from Packhorse Hut |
Here are a couple of view's of the distant Southern Alps, not very clear as there was a lot of mist coming up over the saddle and rolling down into Kaituna valley.
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| Distant Southern Alps from Packhorse Hut |
The interior of the hut is quite tidy, being close to Christchurch means it gets its fair share of TLC.
I was the only person here for the afternoon and the evening, I saw one couple coming back from the hut but they were the only people I saw all day. There was a storm predicted for the next day, I imagine this is why I had no company for the night.
As it was the end of summer there was no firewood, anticipating this I had dragged an old log up from a nearby patch of bush and proceeded to chop it up, it was needed as it turned quite cold after the sun went down.
I did have the company of "Ralph" the hut mouse who irritated me by rolling a walnut around all night. Unfortunately I could not find the offending nut, only hear it rolling around on the wooden floors.
Lovely!
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| Interior of Packhorse Hut, Banks Peninsula in 2013 |
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| Packhorse Hut- Dining table and benches |
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| Packhorse Hut- one of the bunk rooms |
As it was the end of summer there was no firewood, anticipating this I had dragged an old log up from a nearby patch of bush and proceeded to chop it up, it was needed as it turned quite cold after the sun went down.
I did have the company of "Ralph" the hut mouse who irritated me by rolling a walnut around all night. Unfortunately I could not find the offending nut, only hear it rolling around on the wooden floors.
Lovely!
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| Interior Packhorse Hut- brewing up on arrival! |
Here is a view of the hut from a slight rise next to it, it is a classic early 20th century stone building, there used to be a few stone huts. The only survivors are this one, Mt Aspiring Hut and one on the Tongariro crossing.
Note: Be aware that since February 2016 Packhorse Hut is on the DOC hut booking system. If you intend to stay the night you must book, or you might not have a bunk to sleep on. The positive is that they fill the woodshed regularly and you have a guaranteed bunk for the night.
Note: Be aware that since February 2016 Packhorse Hut is on the DOC hut booking system. If you intend to stay the night you must book, or you might not have a bunk to sleep on. The positive is that they fill the woodshed regularly and you have a guaranteed bunk for the night.
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| Packhorse Hut in 2013 |
Sunset from the hut with views over Lyttleton harbour and the Southern Alps in the far distance.
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| The sun sets over the Port Hills at days end, Packhorse Hut |
I had a quiet night at the hut as I was by myself. I lit the fire as the woodshed was full of firewood and read my way through the reading material in the hut. Over night I had a damn rat or mouse rolling a walnut across the floor until I got up and crushed it and then it was quiet enough to sleep.
Day 2: Packhorse Hut to Kaituna Valley
I left early the next morning (6am) as I was interested in trying some easy night tramping, this is a view of Mt Bradley, as dawn rose over it. Mt Bradley is the peak right next to the hut, and an interesting destination in its own right.
An hour and a half saw me back at the car park, I went a few kilometres down the road to a nice scenic reserve and stopped to make a hot drink and to have something to eat.
I would like to do the circuit Gebbies Pass- Packhorse- Mt Herbert-Diamond Harbour (I completed the Summit Walkway in 2016), then catch the ferry back across to Lyttleton. It could be an overnight or a very long day trip, as a day trip it would probably take 6-8 hours total.
My opinion of Packhorse Hut...
This is not a hard core mountain tramp, but it is a nice hut in a great location, an easy introduction for beginners. I really like this hut, and will be back, possibly as an extended trip taking in the relatively easy ascent of Mt Herbert. |
| The track leading from Packhorse to Mt Herbert 2014 |
I would like to do the circuit Gebbies Pass- Packhorse- Mt Herbert-Diamond Harbour (I completed the Summit Walkway in 2016), then catch the ferry back across to Lyttleton. It could be an overnight or a very long day trip, as a day trip it would probably take 6-8 hours total.
Make sure you check out the report of the day trip I took to the hut earlier in the year for more photos of the track and hut.
Access: On the Aakroa-Christchurch Highway, turn up Kaituna Valley Road, left up Parkinson's Road, then follow Kaituna Valley-Packhorse Hut Track
Track Times: 2 hours to Packhorse Hut, 1.5 hours return to Kaituna
Hut Details: Packhorse Hut: serviced, 12 bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed, toilets
Miscellaneous: On DOC Hut booking system, must be booked for overnight visit, some seasonal track closures
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