Vandals at work in Fiordland NP...

More destruction of DOC facilities...

 I was utterly appalled and disgusted to read about recent vandalism to a number of huts down in Fiordland NP. It is only the first week out of Covid Level 3 restrictions and already we have scumbags destroying DOC assets in acts of senseless idiocy. There were also six SAR call outs around the country over the weekend so it would have been a busy time for DOC, the Police and the rescue services...

Lake Manapouri looking across to Shallow Bay

Two huts were vandalised  over the last weekend with broken doors and forced locks at Moturau Hut and significant damage caused to the flooring, bunks and furniture at Shallow Bay Hut. Both of these huts are on the Kepler Track and sit about 1.5-2 hours from the road end at Rainbow Reach. My understanding is that it will cost several thousand dollars to repair...money which is ultimately coming from your tax dollars.

Moturau Hut on the Kepler Track

The Moturau Hut toilets were extensively damaged...

I visited both of these huts earlier this year when I walked the Kepler Track and Shallow Bay in particular is a lovely and well liked late 1950's hut on Lake Manapouri. The two huts are only 30 minutes apart so I would surmise the damage was caused by the same people. 

Lovely Shallow Bay Hut is just off the Kepler Track

The Police are looking for any information about the vandals with a view to prosecuting them. What the vandals might not realise is that there are security cameras at the carparks on BOTH ends of the Kepler Track and at the docks at Manapouri and Te Anau! 

They will have DNA evidence and fingerprints to follow up as the bastards left rubbish and broken bottles around which make great objects to finger print. The chances of the perpetrators getting away with their crimes are very slight.

There are cameras monitoring both carparks for the Kepler Track

You would like to think this was just a bunch of stupid teenagers getting up to mischief but given some of the recent flouting of the Covid rules by professionals in their late 20's, 30's and 40's you know they wont be. Whoever they are..they remain to put it simply...a bunch of arses!!!

There is also a camera monitoring the Rainbow Reach bridge...

 I hope they prosecute them to the severest limits of the law. 

New DOC hut in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

 A restored hut opens at Aoraki/MT Cook NP...

More hut news...Aoraki/Mt Cook NP now has another hut available for over night use...it is the old Hooker Hut moved to a new location. The hut originally sat on a moraine wall further up the Hooker Valley but it had to be removed in 2015 as the moraine wall was collapsing and the Department of Conservation wanted to save and restore this historic hut. 

Newly restored and relocated Hooker Hut (1910)

Hooker Hut now has superb views of Aoraki/Mt Cook

The hut was moved to Twizel where it was restored to its original condition inside and then moved to a new location on the floor of the Hooker River Valley not far from Stocking Stream. New cladding, insulation and new interior fixtures were added to the hut so that it could once again be utilised by people visiting the National Park. 

Hooker Hut in its old location...

Hooker Hut is a 8 bunk Serviced hut and it has gas cookers, a gas fire, water tanks, toilets and will be able to be booked for overnight use. Here is a potted history of the Hooker Hut from the DOC website:

Karen and I are heading up to Aoraki/Mt Cook NP in early June and I have a mission in mind to bag the hut while we are in the area. It is located just off the popular Hooker Valley Track near Stocking Stream and will be able to be pre-booked so that you have a guaranteed bunk in the hut. It is only two hours walk from Whitehorse Hill Campsite so it is going to see a lot of use...

The hut is located behind the Mueller Glacier moraine wall...

Hooker Hut tucked into its new location in the Hooker River Valley

 It is interesting to note that this is the first new hut in the park since 2003 when the current Mueller Hut was built so it is great to have another option when staying at Mt Cook. I'm really pleased they decided to reuse the old hut as it is important to hold onto this kind of outdoor history. 

I will take some photos of the hut if we are able to visit it in June...

New hut opens on the Milford Track...

 New facilities on the Milford Track

The Department of Conservation (DOC) have released some photos of the new 40 bunk Mintaro Hut IV on the Milford Track. This $3.5 million complex replaces the previous 40 year old hut in a new and better location.

The new Mintaro Hut (2021), Milford Track, Fiordland

The old Mintaro Hut (III) was still perfectly usable although it did have some serious space issues as the track got busier over the years. It was the oldest DOC hut on the track with Clinton and Dumpling Huts both being replaced within the last 10 years. The main reason they moved Mintaro Hut was because it was right in the middle of a rock fall zone and it was only a matter of time before it was going to catch a packet.

Old Mintaro Hut was in the shadow of Mt Balloon

The dining/living space at the old Mintaro Hut

I think the landslip which hit Howdon Hut (Routeburn Track) in 2020 has really focused attention on those huts in potential hazard zones. People got hurt in that incident and it was just sheer bloody good luck that nobody was killed. I talked to a guy on the Paparoa Track that was in Howdon Hut that night and it sounds like it was a harrowing experience. DOC are responsible for the occupants of any hut so I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more at risk huts move or be rebuilt in the next decade or so...

One of the bunkrooms at the old Mintaro Hut

The old Mintaro Hut site was also cramped...

The new hut has been moved to a much better location so it is now bathed in sun for much of the day and less likely to be hit by an avalanche or land slide. It is fully insulated and has double glazing and massive picture windows to maximise sunlight inside and views down the Clinton River Valley. My understanding is that it is lower down the valley and closer to Pompolona Hut. Looking at the new coordinates for the hut it appears to be on the other side of the Clinton River...

New Mintaro Hut, the spacious new living area...

New Mintaro Hut has a wrap around veranda...

It looks really nice and has already opened..it will be in use for the 2021/2022 Great Walk season so anyone walking the Milford Track this year will be staying there. The old Mintaro Hut will be disassembled over the coming summer and flown out to Te Anau for disposal. 

A new Great Walk for New Zealand

Humpridge Track to become the 11th Great Walk

We had some tramping news over the weekend, after two years of discussion a new Great Walk has been announced. The existing Humpridge Track will be receiving a couple of new huts and a track upgrade to bring it up to Great Walk standard. Total cost of the project will be $5 million dollars but this is likely to increase as these projects always cost more than estimated. 

Humpridge Track: sun setting from near Ohaka Lodge

This is the second new Great Walk in the last four years and is part of a wider DOC strategy to build more Great Walks around the country. There is a 30+ year gap between these two new walks and the last, the Kepler Track which was opened in 1988. 

Humpridge Track:map showing the track and local area

 It is hoped that building these new tramping tracks will stimulate the local economy while taking some of the pressure off the existing Great Walk track network. 

The Humpridge Track

The Humpridge Track is a 61km long track near Tuatapere in Southland. While the track was built by a local trust the land it sits on belongs to Fiordland National Park. The Tuatapere-Humpridge Track currently exists as a three day, two night trip with one night spent at Okaka Lodge on the crest of the Humpridge. 

Humpridge Track: Ohaka Lodge, Te Waewae Bay in distance

Your second night is spent at Port Craig after descending from the Humpridge, there is a lodge and a DOC hut at the old abandoned port. The last day features a walk along the coastal forest reminiscent of the Heaphy Track...no Nikau Palms though, they dont grow down here. 

Humpridge Track: DOC Port Craig Schoolhouse Hut

The track features a mix of regrowth native bush, lush forest, coastal track and sub alpine tussock with excellent views out to Te Waewae Bay from the crest of the ridge. There are rock tors and a series of tarns on the ridge top. There are also excellent views to the north encompassing Lake Haukoro and the southern part of Fiordland NP. 

Humpridge Track: the tarns and tors on the Humpridge

It kind of reminds me of the Kepler Track as it has a similar profile: long & flat at the start followed by a significant climb (900 meters), a long walk across the tops and then a descent back down to the finish on the coast. You cross a number of historic wooden viaducts on the way including ones over the Edwin Burn and Percy Burn.

Humpridge Track: the viaduct over the Percy Burn

I have always had this track on my tramping bucket list and was most of the way through organising a trip for December 2017. Unfortunately my marriage broke up and I was temporarily unable to complete the trip due to lack of funds. I have been thinking about the area recently but this just gives me more incentive to get down there and tramp. 

Humpridge Great Walk: looking ahead...

If the upgrade work follows the path taken by the Paparoa/Pike 29 track I would expect it to join the Great Walk roster some time in 2022. It seems to take about 2-3 years for a track to open once it has been announced. The completion of the Paparoa/Pike 29 is late as much of it is new track cut through some heinous terrain. The Humpridge currently has a tramping track so in fact it may take less time to bring it up to Great Walk standard.

Humpridge Track: in the forest on the way to Humpridge

The curent Humpridge Track has guided and unguided tramping options, I expect this will continue.  There will probably be DOC huts and private lodges co-located as on the Routeburn and Milford Tracks. As yet the information about the upgrade is slim so watch this space...

Humpridge Track: Ohaka Lodge, Te Waewae Bay in distance

I will probably wait until the new huts are completed before visiting but if the opportunity arrives to walk the Humpridge Track then I will take it. 

Where have you been Jon?

...and why no recent posts....

I haven't posted much for the last couple of months as I have been out of commission as I was receiving treatment for cancer. I am hopefully past the worst of my recuperation now so have started going out for some tramping trips once again. I'm starting out slow so the trip reports you will see are going to be short walks, day trips and possibly some short over-night trips.

Contemplating a crossing of the new course of the Hawdon River

To that end I recently visited Godley Head on the Port Hills to walk the Godley Head Loop Track. I also made an aborted attempt to visit Hawdon Hut after the recent storms but was thwarted by too high rivers. 

Me visiting the Godley Head defense installation recently...

I have plans for some more multi-day trips for later this year including hopefully a trip to Rakuira/Stewart Island, the Routeburn Great Walk and more adventures in Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes National Parks. I am also trying to advance my project to tramp all of the tracks in Arthur's Pass NP as I have set up a new blog specifically about that park. 

A visit to Otamahua Hut (2018) on Quail Island...

Otamahua Hut opens on Quail Island

New Zealand's newest DOC hut opened over the weekend, it is Otamahua Hut on Quail Island in the centre of Lyttleton Harbour.

The recently restored Otamahua Hut on Quail Island

This is another step in the Department of Conservation/Rod Donald Trust's long term plan to provide more opportunities for Christchurch residents to enjoy outdoor pursuits on Banks Peninsula.

There are now three DOC huts within an hours drive of the city, all on the DOC Hut booking site. The other two are Rod Donald Hut overlooking Little River/Western Valley and Packhorse Hut on Kaituna Pass.

Conversion of an older building

The hut is a conversion undertaken on the old rangers house located on the northern western side of the island, it was also previously the Heritage Centre for Quail Island. The new hut has been configured as a serviced 12 bunk hut, with a separate hut wardens quarters so it can be used for work parties to the island.

It has all the features of a DOC serviced hut: bunks, tables, water source, toilets and wood burner with wood provided.

I mentioned the ongoing conversion in a post I wrote after visiting Quail Island in January 2018, it has taken nearly10 months to be completed but is now open and ready to be used over the 2018/19 Christmas period.  

The hut can be booked on the DOC hut booking page, you can book out the whole hut or just the number of beds you need.Good back-country hut etiquette is to only book the number of places you need, so just do that!

Please don't book out the whole hut so you and the missus can have some 'private time' on Quail Island...other people will want to us it as well. 

Materials waiting inside Otamahua Hut for the conversion to begin in 2017

The hut is great news as it allows people the chance to visit the island and stay overnight while experiencing what it is like to stay in a DOC hut. The track to the hut is very easy to negotiate so this hut can be used by people of all ages: families, children and older folk included.

I can see the hut being used by groups ranging from families, school groups, guides/scouts and groups of older trampers reliving their glory days...

DOC Otamahua/Quail Island Brochure

You can check out the useful brochure about visiting Otamahua/Quail Island on the DOC website...

The completed hut, cica 2019...

I recently visited Otamahua/Quail Island and took some photos of the completed hut. DOC have done a magnificent job of converting the building and a half full intentions bock attests to the popularity of the experience.

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: a Scout group arriving at the hut

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: interior photo of the dining area

Opening plaque at Otamahua/Quail Island Hut

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: interior view of the kitchen

Bunkroom 1 in Otamahua/Quail Island Hut

Bunkroom 2 in Otamahua/Quail Island Hut

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: excellent wood burner installed

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: I love those unique and super funky shelf support arms

Rodent proof boxes for your food at Otamahua/Quail Island Hut

Otamahua/Quail Island Hut: beautiful location, excellent hut. 

The new hut is a real jewel and I imagine it will become the first back country hut many, many Cantabrians visit over the coming years...

Damn fine job to all the participants in the build!

A joint venture...

The new hut is a joint venture between the Department of Conservation, Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust and the Rod Donald Trust. The two trusts largely raised the funds for the renovation while DOC provided the builders to undertake the work. All three will contribute to the upkeep of the hut. 

Map: Otamahua/Quail Island...The new hut is located where the old Heritage Centre was...

Collaborative joint ventures are the way forward when it comes to building new huts and tracks, this one is no exception. DOC are interested in promoting recreation while the Rod Donald Trust is doing a fantastic job of promoting outdoor pursuits on Banks Peninsula. The Ecological Trust have been working for 25 years replanting Otamahua with native trees to restore it to its pre European condition.

All three of their interests dovetail here therefore providing the motive power to get this project off the ground.

View of the interior of Otamahua Hut while under renovation, photo from Rod Donald Trust site

Here is a blub from the DOC page about the history of the hut and Otamahua/Quail Island:

Heritage

Ōtamahua/Quail Island has a rich history and culture. The Island has been used as a quarantine station for sick immigrants before they were allowed on the mainland. It has also been used to house New Zealand’s only leper colony as well as training animals for early Antarctic expeditions.

The hut was built in approximately 1910, mostly by prisoners of the Lyttelton Jail. It was used as a caretaker’s cottage up until the early 1980s. Between 1906 and 1925, the caretakers provided cooked food for the lepers. In 1982, the hut was converted into the Island’s interpretation centre.

Since being converted into overnight accommodation, the interpretation panels will now be housed in the Immigrant Barracks on Whakamaru Beach (Swimmers Beach).

Completed Otamahua Hut, repainted and ready to be used...

If you would like more information check out this report on the Rod Donald Trust website or have a look at the Otamahua page on the DOC site. 

Go there and enjoy the views!

Sad news: Casey Hut in Arthurs Pass NP burnt to ground

Casey Hut burns down...

 A group from the Christchurch Tramping Club discovered the smouldering embers of Casey Hut on Saturday morning. I visited the hut back in 2012 while doing the Andrews-Casey-Binser circuit, it was a lovely old Lockwood style wood building.

Casey Hut in 2012 when I visited

A very similar thing happened to the old Hawdon Hut back in 2010 and it took 2 years for a replacement to be built. Here's hoping it will be replaced by DOC as it is vital stop over for anyone tramping the Upper Poulter Valley, Casey-Binser Circuit and Lake Minchin.

Below are a couple of shots from the Tramping New Zealand website of the hut interior in 2014.

Casey Hut: Interior, dining area

Casey Hut: interior one of the bunkrooms

Here is a photo of the empty hut site from the Radio NZ website:

2017 Update: DOC Canterbury did a assessment and decided that Casey Hut will NOT be replaced. This is likely to happen more often now that DOC are severely strapped for cash.

Plans are afoot to move one of the the huts from the Upper Poulter Valley to near the old hut site. It looks like Trust Poulter (8 bunks) will be shifted sometime in 2017-2018 with a refurbishment and possible enlargement. This work is being carried out by a volunteer group with some assistance from DOC Canterbury.

Trust Poulter Hut in the Upper Poulter Valley, Arthur's Pass NP

Update 2018: A new and intriguing message has appeared on the DOC web site for Arthurs Pass. There is now a message saying that Casey Hut is to be replaced in Mid 2018 after over 4 years of no hut on the site. I can find no other information so here's hoping it means a new or refurbished hut is going to be moved to this location soon...