Child friendly rating: 4-5 stars

Distance: 8km via land or 9km via water and portage

Signposted time: walking time 2 hours 30 minutes. Paddling time around the same.

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Yes

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? No

Parking:

 This depends on your method of transport. You have 3 options.

1. Kayak/ packraft via portage - Park at and launch from Frasers Beach for this option.

2. Catch the water taxi across from Pearl Harbour to the start of the walking track, and then walk to the hut.

3. Use your own powered boat to get to the hut the long way (Ie not via portage obviously).

For the 2nd two options, park at the main overnight carpark for Manapouri.

The Track:

 Kayaking/Packrafting:

This is my favourite way to get to this hut. It is wind level dependent. Check windy.com, and I wouldn't be paddling if wind levels are forecast to be more than 30km/hr gusts. The waves can get to be several meters high on Lake Manapouri!

You'll need to have a fairly good idea what direction you are heading in while paddling. There is a giant orange marker marking the portage.

Carry your kayak/s or packraft/s through the portage. It is flat and easy to walk, just the main issue is carrying all your gear!

Then paddle again from George Bay to Hope Arm.

It took us 4.5 hours to paddle including stopping to cook lunch on our cooker at George Bay.

Walking:
There is a river between Manapouri township and the start of the track. With no bridge over, the only way to get to the start of the track is via the water taxi over the river.

The track itself is basically flat the whole way to the hut. It is well worn as it is often used by people making the ascent up Titiroa. The bush is stunning, and the water taxi gives it a fun experience.

You can even create a bit of a loop by returning via Back Valley Hut - there is a 3-wire bridge this way which can be a neat experience.

Boating:

You can also take your own (or a friends) boat directly to the hut - just obviously you can't use the portage in that case and need to go round the points though this won't matter as you're not paddling in your own strength anyway.

If you come via kayak or your own boat you can also stop and climb The Monument (The big hill you can see) along the way if you'd like. This is a great way to get a walk in if you came via water.

Hut:

 The hut has platform bunks. It's pretty tidy, and generally not too busy with overnight guests.

There is great space to play around the hut, and a lovely beach at the lakes edge. In summer it can be great to have a swim in the lake too.

Recommendations:

If you're thinking of an overnight kayak trip, this one I'd really recommend. Just check the wind levels first for both your way there and the way back. Make sure you're paddling in good conditions.

For walking, this is a great one too, and it could make a good first overnight hike even. Just the 8km distance would be a lot for preschooler legs to walk the whole way as a first hike.

If you're going to do the loop via the 3-wire bridge, the youngest a child can cross this on their own is a very confident average height 5 year old. Any younger and the child will need to be carried over in a carrier.