Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 7.1km

Signposted time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Technically safe, but too cold.

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? No

Parking:

Follow the signage for Fox Peak Ski Area. There is a marked DOC parking area just before the bridge over the North Opuha River.

The Track:

Most of the track is a 4WD track. It's super easy to follow, and very easy for kids to walk in good conditions. There is a slight drop down to the hut towards the end of the track, but otherwise the gradient is very flat.

Unfortunately being on farmland, the views are a bit plain. Spring would be a great time with some snow still on the mountains. In bad weather or hot sun the track is also extremely exposed with no trees to shelter under.

We last did this track one May when our daughter was 2.5. It was wide enough that we could each hold her hand while walking. It took us around 3.5 hours there, with her walking very decent sections slowly.

On the way back out, the weather was really rough. It was extremely windy, bitterly cold, and visibility was next to nothing. We walked out as fast as we could with our daughter in the carrier, and it took us just under 2 hours.

Hut:

The hut is a historic hut, which is quite cosy and tidy given its age, but not one I'd want a toddler crawling around in. It is also freezing. Like so freezing that sleeping in a tent would almost be warmer! The wind blows right through the hut.

Recommendations:

This is an easy, but can be viewed as boring track to a cold hut. While technically it can be visited in winter, I feel the ideal time is while the weather is warmer, but just not too hot due to how exposed the track is.