Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 1.6km

Signposted time: 1hr15 there, 1hr30 back

Bookings Required? Yes

Suitable in Winter? Caution Required

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? Ideally yes for last section of road. In wet weather might be necessary, but in dry weather a 2wd is fine, just watch for potholes.

Parking: Turn off SH1 onto Mount Misery Road, and keep driving all the way to the end of the farm road. Leave gates as found, but you can keep going to the end of the road. There is a carpark for Glencoe Reserve access, but DONT park here, keep going. You’re heading as far as the Waianakarua Reserve Carpark. You can see the hut from the carpark sign.

The track: This hike is probably only really child friendly due to its short distance. The track itself is not the most child friendly.

The first section is only cut around 30cm wide. So you need to push your way through shrubbery. It can be quite intimidating for younger kids when the bushes are bigger than them.

Once out of the dense bush, the track is very steep downhill. After rain, this becomes a slippery mud fest.

At the bottom there is a small creek to cross. Even after relatively heavy rain, the creek should still be possible to cross with dry boots. Rocks have been arranged to make a dry path. After rain the slippery track will be a bigger issue than the creek crossing.

After the creek crossing, you're past 2/3 of the way there. Now you just need to climb up the grassy slope to the hut. This is steep but short. Break the climb up, and you'll be up in no time.

The carpark is at approx. 550m asl, you drop down to around 220m asl, and then climb back up to 450m asl.

So while the track is short, it's not overly toddler friendly. And with a child carrier on the front, it's very hard to see underfoot. With a child carrier on the back, it may be a struggle to squeeze through between some of the trees. Toddlers may struggle with the steep track even once you're past the overgrown section.

Our 3 year old walked the whole way there, and it took us 2 hours exactly, walking at his pace and taking breaks at his pace (Though he is used to tramping) On the way back, it took us 1 hour 45 minutes, simply because we were racing through the last section. It had snowed overnight, and the bushes that were very dense to walk through on the way down were drooping under the weight of the snow. This meant we were bush bashing through snow so we got very covered in snow very quickly.

Would not recommend this track in snow at all, but outside of snow and heavy rain it would be suitable for a winter visit.

The hut: The hut is very new, (built 2023) and is not yet on the DOC booking system. You need to send a text to Barry on 027 634 6613 to book for now. Pricing is more expensive on weekend nights and during the roar than week nights, but is currently $10/adult and $5/child 5yo+ on a weeknight.

Being in a popular hunting area, it is best not to visit during the roar - the hut will likely be booked out anyway. But we didn't struggle to get a Labour Weekend booking.

The hut is toasty warm as its well insulated, and there is a fireplace with plenty of bush around to gather more firewood.

6 bunks, but enough space to put mattresses on the floor to co-sleep. This hut has one of the cleanest toilets I've ever seen too. A composting system that doesn't smell at all.

There is no One cellphone reception at the hut, but I suspect that there is Spark cellphone reception.

Recommendations: An easy first hut to visit, but not very suitable for the littlest people. You can make it work, but I'd recommend it more for 4-5yo+ as a first trip. Break up any uphill sections, and don't visit after heavy rain for a good first hut experience. If you've taken younger kids on a few hut trips already, and are prepared to carry them without being able to see well under your feet, this is still a good option due to its short distance. If your child has sensory aversions to plants touching them a lot, this is not going to be suitable.