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!

Campsites in Arthurs Pass National Park

A variety of camp-sites in Arthur's Pass...

There are a number of camp sites within the park, all of them are accessible from SH73 so you tend to share them with freedom campers and tourists in camper vans. There is one on the western side and five on the eastern side of Arthur's Pass.

Kelly Creek Camp-site: West Coast

Kelly creek camp-site is on the western side of the Main Divide about 2 kilometres past Otira settlement. It is a very basic camp-site located next to the car-park along Kelly's Creek. There is a nice 30 walk near here called the Cockayne Nature Walk. This is also the start of the track to Carroll Hut on the ridges over looking Kelly's Creek. 

Kelly's Creek car-park and camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located 20 km west from VISITOR CENTRE on Highway 73.
• FREE
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Facilities: Long drop toilet, water is from Kelly's Creek (treat before use)
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• Take your rubbish with you!
• Note: Roadside shelter was removed in December 2007!

There are a lot of car break-ins at this car park so hide any valuables out of sight if you leave your car here for any length of time.

Avalanche Creek, Camp-site and day shelter

The main camp-site and the one closest to Arthur's Pass township is the Avalanche Creek shelter and camp-site. There is space here for about 10 small tents as well as lots of space for camper vans to park. The shelter is large and can easily hold a sizeable number of people. 

Note: you may not sleep inside the shelter and this is regularly policed by the local DOC Rangers.

Avalanche Creek Shelter and camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located across road from the Arthur's Pass DOC visitor centre
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Cost $8 pp / night. Payable at site, or DOC Visitor Centre opposite.
• Facilities: Water, toilets, day-use shelter with tables, rubbish disposal.
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• No open fires permitted!
• Warning: Do not leave your tent unattended as the Kea will dismantle it for you!

Avalanche Creek Shelter and camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Plenty of space for camper vans at the Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

Interior of the Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

Interior of the Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

Interior of the Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

 

Useful information board in the Avalanche Creek Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

 The Avalanche Peak Track starts close to this shelter, it is located right next to the DOC visitor centre on the opposite side of SH73.

Greyney's shelter & camp-site

Greyney's Shelter camp-site  is the start point for a number of tracks: the Old Coach Road, the Mingha-Deception Track and the route to Edwards Hut. There is space for about 3-6 smaller tents, SH73 is right next to the camp-site so it is a bit noisy. There is no water anywhere near here so you need to bring supplies with you.

The camping area at Greyney's Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located 5 km east from Arthur's Pass DOC visitor centre on Highway 73.
• FREE
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Facilities: Day use shelter, long drop toilet
• Limited camping space!
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• Take your rubbish with you!
• Fires in shelter fireplace only!

Greyneys Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

Interior of Greyneys Shelter, Arthur's Pass National Park

 Klondyke Corner shelter & camp-site

 The Klondyke Corner shelter and camp-site is located on the edge of the national park just off SH73. The shelter is open to all visitors and is open on three sides with a fourth wall which includes an open fireplace. The camp-site is very basic there is no water so it is really meant to be used by camper vans or self contained campers. 

Klondyke Corner Shelter at the edge of Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located 8 km east from Arthur's Pass DOC visitor centre on Highway 73.
• FREE- no charge to camp
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Facilities: Day use shelter, long drop toilets
• Take your rubbish with you!
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• No open fires permitted!
• Warning: Do not leave your tent unattended as the Kea will dismantle it for you!

Klondyke Corner camp-site in Arthur's Pass National Park

Klondyke Corner camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Klondyke Corner Shelter with Bealey Spur in background

It would be a bit dusty here if any breeze was blowing...

Hawdon Valley shelter & campsite

There is a vast section of Arthur's Pass to the east of the Waimakariri River in the Hawdon/Andrews and Poulter River Valleys. All of these areas have many excellent tramping destinations and there are also two camp-sites. 

Looking North west into the Hawdon River Valley, Arthur's Pass National Park

The Hawdon Valley camp site is the largest in the whole park and comprises a area of bush with a huge open space around it. You could easily pitch a thousand tents here and still have space to spare. The valley is accessed from the Mt White bridge turn-off about 30 km's east of Arthur's Pass. 

Turn off to the Hawdon Valley, Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located 27 km east from Arthur's Pass DOC visitor centre. Turn off onto Mt White Road and follow signs.
• FREE- no charge to camp
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Facilities: Long drop toilet, day-use shelter.
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• Take your rubbish with you!
• No open fires permitted! There is a fireplace in the shelter that may be used.

Crossing the Mt White bridge to the Hawdon Valley

Entrance to the Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

The Hawdon Shelter and upper terrace, Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Hawdon Shelter, Hawdon Valley, Arthur's Pass National Park

Below are some photos of the camping area and particular spots where it might be good to pitch a tent...

Masses of space at the Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Example of the spots at the Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Some campers in residence over a recent weekend...Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

No fires allowed at the Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

The ubiquitous DOC long drop...Hawdon Camp-site, Arthur's Pass National Park

This camp-site will be very busy at the start of any long weekend, over Easter and in the Christmas/New Years break. It is sandfly heaven so if you are camping here get used to raising your tent at the speed of light or they will consume you alive....

Andrews Shelter shelter & campsite

There is a camp-site and enclosed day shelter at the end of the Andrews River on the Andrews-Binser Saddle Route. The Andrews shelter is on the road to Mt White Station it is approximately 6 kilometres from the Mt White bridge over the Waimakariri River.  The shelter is quite nice, the camp site is a scratch affair, it is basically the flat area surrounding the shelter. 

Andrews Shelter on the Mt White Station Road, Arthur's Pass National Park

• Located 29 km east from Arthur's Pass DOC visitor centre. Turn off onto Mt White Road and follow signs.
• FREE- no charge to camp
• NO Advance Bookings - first in, first served!
• Camper vans permitted (no powered sites)
• Facilities: Long drop toilet, day-use shelter.
• No pets permitted under any circumstances.
• Take your rubbish with you!
• No open fires permitted!

The Red Beast parked at the Andrews Valley car-park in 2012...

Andrews Shelter from the Mt White Station road, Arthur's Pas National Park

Andrews Shelter and the surrounding flat camping ground, Arthur's Pass National Park

Arthur's Pass National Park: the shelter and camping area at Andrews Shelter

The Andrews Valley Track is next to the shelter

Again...lots and lots and lots of sand-flies here.....