Child friendly rating: 3 stars
Distance: 9km
Signposted time: 4 hours
Bookings Required? No
Suitable in Winter? Yes
Camping Available? Plenty
4wd required? No
Parking:
Park at the Welcome Flat (Rough Creek) Carpark off SH6.
The Track:
This is the same track as the Welcome Flat Track, but you stop halfway.
In heavy rain, the track is often closed as Rough Creek which you need to cross at the start of the track floods. There is a flood by-pass track, but this is used more for emergency exits of the track rather than emergency entrances into the track. The emergency track adds on an extra 3km/1 hour adult walking time.
When crossing Rough Creek, you will get wet boots, and there are several little rivers/creeks to cross in fine weather.
The track is well-built and generally wide enough to be holding a childs hand the whole way. It is relatively flat, however there are some sections towards the end where you walk along the riverside. This is very slow going on the big slippery boulders with kids. It is doable, but toddlers and preschoolers will need to hold an adults hand for balance - and the adult will meanwhile also need to be balancing on the rocks.
There are also several little creeks to cross along the track. It is not a ridiculously hard track, but it is a long walk to a tiny hut.
The track is very busy all year round with people going to Welcome Flat Hut and the Welcome Flat hot springs.
With a 2 year old walking big chunks and a 6 year old walking the whole way with just a small pack it took us 6 hours including breaks to Architect Creek Hut.
Hut:
The hut is very small, and often full up. It has individual bunks.
There is a good clearing near the hut with heaps of space for tents.
Recommendations:
The hut isn't an amazing destination on its own - instead, I'd recommend stopping here for a night on the way to (and perhaps from) Welcome Flat Hut. This makes the trips to Welcome Flat do-able with younger kids. Otherwise there are better overnight destinations with kids in tow nearby such as Blowfly Hut.
