Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 8km

Signposted time: 2.5 hours or 3 hour paddle plus 1.5 hour walk

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Yes

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? No

Parking:

Same as for Hope Arm hut, depending on your mode of transport, you're going to either park at Frasers Beach if you're paddling, or you'll park at the main Manapouri township jetty overnight park if you're catching the water taxi or your own boat.

The Track:

Your options to get to this hut are either making your way via water to Hope Arm Hut, or catching the water taxi across the Waiau River and then taking the walking track to the hut.

For getting to Hope Arm Hut, read the description on that page. From Hope Arm, it's approximately 5km walk to Back Valley Hut, including crossing a 3-wire bridge. An average sized but very confident 5 year old can cross the 3-wire bridge themselves. Any younger and the child won't reach and you'll have to have them in a carrier.

The walk from Hope Arm Hut is very easy and flat, though there are some fallen logs to climb over. With a 5 year old walking and a younger child being carried, it took us basically exactly 1.5 hours. On another occasion my husband speed-walked carrying a child in 40 minutes.

Walking from the jetty on the other side of Pearl Harbour is also a flat walk that is signposted at 2.5 hours.

Another option that I haven't tried, but should theoretically be possible is to kayak/packraft from Frasers Beach to Circle Track at the point where it starts heading into the bush. A GPS would be necessary for this option, but you would end up not needing the water taxi, and swap 2km of walking for about 2km of paddling instead. Then stash your raft here, and walk the rest of the way as per the walking route.

Hut:

 The hut is a tiny 4-bunk hut that's very basic and rustic. Located in a good clearing, and full of reading materials.

Recommendations:

 While Hope Arm Hut is a nicer hut to stay at, this can be an option if you're after something quieter (Or you prefer the more rustic option). With needing some form of water transportation and a walk, it is a unique option to get to. And the walk is easy enough for all ages (Just being aware of the 3-wire bridge located just before the hut if coming from Hope Arm). If your kids haven't seen one yet and you come from the other side, it's worth going to check out the 3-wire bridge just beyond the hut around 2 minutes.