This thread is for the posting of Huts, Bivvies & Shelters on the bottom half of the North Island of New Zealand.
Structures in this thread should be located South of Hawera - Hwy 43 to Taumarunui - Turangi - Taupo - Tarawera - Napier.  Hut postings should include The name/location of the hut, Grid Reference/GPS waypoint coordinates, a few minor basic details about the hut itself such as bunks, heating, accessories and if possible a brief description on the means and times to get to it. This is not a forum of discussion about the hut/s but is merely here for a reference to that hut. Further discussions about the huts can be posted in the in the main section of the Huts section. Any postings that turn this thread into a discussion and detract of the nature and intent of this thread will be either deleted or moved.
Historical Huts are welcome but please indicate their availabilty for useage.
So feel free to add to this thread.

Long veiw hut
Ruhine F.P.

kashmir Road??
Water tank
gas stove/heater
Longview Hut.                Map U22, GR E2776741, N6134658

Here is Tarn Ridge hut, in the Tararua's. Visited this place not long ago on one of the rare fine days that occur in the Tararua's.


Outside - an older pic


View down the waingawa from the veranda


Inside



The hut sleeps about 15-20, has mattresses, sleeping platforms, wood burner but not much firewood handy (DOC has provided some wood and coal.) This hut replaces the old Wgtn NZDA Tarn Ridge hut located a bit further North along the ridge. Water supply is from water tank.

Location is on the Northern Crossing of the Tararuas,  not far past the junction of Tarn Ridge with Dorset Ridge. Its about an hours tramp down to the Dorset Ridge hut (recently upgraded by Horewhenua hunters and Amalgamated helicopters, Wairarapa..) Some good hunting in the Upper Waiohine valley.  Access on foot takes about at le3ast one full day from the Wairarapa, or usually a bit more. As all routes traverse the tops, wind can make getting there or out can be a bit difficult. An route down the Upper Waingawa to Arete forks hut exists, but would be impassable in flooded conditions.

Powell Hut  Tararua FP
Access to Powell Hut is from the car park at the end of Mt Holdsworth Road and it takes 4-5 hours tramp to get there. The views over the Waiarapa plains are stunning and it's one of the quickest routes onto the tops. This is a large serviced hut that sleeps 30 people. There are gas cookers in the hut and heating is by wood burner stove. DoC maintains a good supply of coal, wood and gas. This hut is on the popular Powell, Jumbo, Holdsworth circuit and sees a lot of trampers and day trippers. Altitude 1200m
E1804184 N5471183



Jumbo Hut Tararua FP (pictured below)
From Powell Hut the tops in this area are some of the easiest to traverse in the park and Mt Holdsworth (1470) can be reached  in about 1 hour from Powell. Then its a 2 hour trip along the tops to a spur which drops down to Jumbo Hut. Jumbo sleeps 24 and has a coal range for heating and gas for cooking.
E1805685 N5474583




Atiwhakatu Hut (pictured below)
From Jumbo Hut it's a steep decent down to the Atiwhakatu River an hour away and a brand new hut built to replace the old rats nest there. The new hut sleeps 12 people and has a wood burner for heating but no cooking facilities. From here it's a 2 hour walk back to the Mt Holdsworth car park. Total time to do this loop with a day pack is about 10 hrs but will vary depending on fitness.
E1806817 N5472972

The way it was. Old Powell Hut, replaced in 1981

Mid Waiohine Hut.



Mangahuka

Kime

waitawaiwai


waitauru


tutuwai


totara flats


sayers


powell


pen creek
[

mungahuka (or hell on earth)


kime


field


cone

Makino Hut- Kaweka Forest Park.
This hut is situated on the main Makino Ridge high above the Makino River which is a tributary of the Mohaka River.
Travel to this hut takes about 3hrs from the Makahu Hot Springs road. The first part of the climb is very steep but then levels out. The return trip takes about 2 1/2hrs.

It was built in 1959 by the New Zealand Forest Service with labour supplied by the Hawkes Bay Deerstalkers. Large groups of deerstalkers spent many weekends cutting out the site and erecting the hut. Materials for the hut were flow into the site by fixed wing and dropped by twelve parachutes. The hut was upgraded in 1993





There is a Kiwi release programme operating in the area that has been very successful.





The grassy area around the hut and the nearby heli pad have been heavily grazed with deer shit right beside the hut and a sika stag scrap only 10 metres from the hut door when I visited recently.