While you can't drive to the front door of the hut, it's only around 2 minutes walk from the carpark.

It's a great base for short day trips if you're not 100% ready for a 'real' tramp. It's a great way to introduce kids to overnight hikes, and make sure you've got the right gear.

Because it's not a far walk, you can get away with taking non-lightweight gear as the weight and volume of your pack doesn't matter too much.

The lodge sleeps up to 28 people in separate bunk rooms and offers facilities like electric lighting, hot showers, and a wood stove. Holdsworth Lodge is a great base for exploring further walks in the Tararua Range.