Child friendly rating: 2 stars

Distance: 3km

Signposted time: 3 hours

Bookings Required? Yes

Suitable in Winter? No

Camping Available? Plenty

4wd required? No

Parking:

 Park at the Fantail Falls Carpark off the Haast Pass Highway between Wanaka & Haast.

The Track:

 The track starts with a creek crossing of the Haast River. It can be freezing even in summer, so it is best to cross with boots still on. You will get wet boots, but the flows are low - we carried our daughter over on the way there just to keep her dry, but then on the way back when it didn't matter she walked over fine herself. She was 5 when we went.

After the river crossing, the track heads straight up into the bush. It is more of a climb than a hike. You are pulling yourself up by tree roots. It's best not to give kids heavy packs - our daughter who could at the time carry all her own overnight clothes and sleeping bad didn't carry anything so she could climb easier.

The first 1km is the steepest, and the track does get a little less steep after this. Though it's still ridiculously steep! It is well worn and marked as it is such a popular track, but the climb is intense.

After 2km of walking, you exit the bushline, and the last 1km to the hut is on a very exposed ridgeline. You don't want to be here in high winds as the ridgeline is very thin with huge drop-offs on either side. There are also still steep track sections.

The area is very alpine for wind, exposure to hot sun, and exposure to cold even on a summers day. You do need perfect conditions to do this hike with young kids who get cold much easier than adults, and plenty of sunscreen.

It took us 5 hours including breaks and lunch to get to the hut for me and hubby with our 5 year old walking the whole way and carrying a 12 month old on my front.

Hut:

 The hut is a typical NZ Alpine Club red hut. Being owned by the NZ Alpine Club, you can't use a DOC annual hut pass here, and it's a little more expensive due to the high costs to helicopter out waste.

There is plenty of camping space near the hut though if the hut is full, and there are often several tents around.

Past the hut, going to the glacier I would not recommend with kids at all. There is a sketchy rock section where one bad footing would result in falling off the side of the hill. People have died here in the past, and it is not worth the risk.

Recommendations:

While the climb here is intense, it is very short. This means that it can be more exciting for kids, but because of the exposure over the last 1km, you do need to be prepared and with good conditions. Younger kids under 5, you'll have to have the ability to carry for safety reasons with the thin track with steep drop-offs. It's best for kids who you know will be careful. Unless you have older kids 10+, I wouldn't do this as a first hike, I'd keep it for more experienced kids.