Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 5km

Signposted time: 2 hours

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Not really

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? In winter if track icy

Parking:

Park in the Cobb Valley near the Cobb Dam next to the eastern side of the Cobb Reservoir.

The Track:

The whole walk up the Sylvester hut is on a 4WD track that is a little steep in sections. Our daughter easily walked the whole way at the age of 3 while holding mums hand for stability on the track. The distance is not too much, and if the track starts feeling steep, there’s plenty of space to have a break along the way.

Some kids don't handle steep tracks well, which would be a case when you might want to pick a different hut, however it's not too bad.

The track is also quite exposed towards the top if the weather is rough, and with the high elevations, the hut can be covered in snow in winter. It's best to not visit this one in winter unless you're experienced in the alpine in snow and also have a 4WD.

Hut:

The hut is modern with platform bunks.

Recommendations:

This makes a great hut to visit even with toddlers, as long as neither them nor you are too put off by the uphill. Could be a first hut to visit. The sunrises here are pretty spectacular too.

The road to get here is extremely windy however, so if anyone in the car gets carsick you'll need to be cautious.

DOC also own a bach on the Cobb Reservoir which could be an option for staying at before heading up. Or stay at nearby Trilobite Hut which you can drive to to make an easy start the next morning without the windy drive.