This is a historic hut, but is in great shape. Cut into the hillside, looking out over the Makahu and the plains beyond, it is in a great spot. The walls of the Whare are rough-sawn slabs of local timber, the rear wall of flattened packaging tins. Roofing iron is the only commercial building product used. The floor is dirt, and two wooden slat bunks make up one wall – sadly without mattresses. Old wooden nail-boxes improvise as chairs. The longdrop – the unwalled, unroofed, sit-on-the-box-and-admire-the-weather variety, is 100m further down the ridge,. Sadly, the striking absence is water. There appears to be none at the hut, and the nearest stream on the map is 40 vertical meters below in the valley floor. Surely there must be water closer than that…?
A biodiversity hut in the Tararua Ranges, actually not at Island Forks but at the forks of the East and West Waitewaewawe rivers - just uo the East Waetewaewae fork.
Designated for Project Kaka workers, the hut spends most of it's year empty and is available for the public when not in use.
2 bunks and river water. Fireplace outside.
4-bunk hut in an island of beech in a fork of the WIndley. The area feels almost like the Kaweka - Studholm or Back Ridge - huts nestled in small islands of beech on the valley floor. Open fire, river water.
Basic Hut/bivvy
A large and popular hut sleeping 16 on 4 platforms. This hut does not require booking, unlike the neighbouring Powell and Atiwhakatu Huts.
Serviced Hut - wood provided.
Active?