Child friendly rating: 5 stars

Distance: 5km

Signposted time: 3 hours

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? With caution

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? No

Parking:

Park at the Mt Fyffe Carpark off Chapmans Road.

The Track:

The track is a 4wd track the whole way to the hut. It is relentlessly uphill the whole way, but luckily it's a short walk and not too steep, just steady up and up.

The steepest bits are actually near the start, and then the track eases off.

With it being a wide 4wd track the whole way, there's plenty of space to have breaks anywhere on the side of the track as needed, and you can easily hold toddlers hands. No bushes to bash through, so it's a pretty good track. As you climb, you'll also start to gain views which is quite exciting.

It took us with an almost 6 year old walking the whole way and her baby brother being carried the whole way 3 hours and 30 minutes to get to the hut with plenty of breaks on the way. On that last visit, we actually carried the kids ski gear up, and they went skiing on the track up past the hut where there was snow!

Hut:

The views from the hut are honestly spectacular. The hut is the same as the old NZFS S70 6-bunk design.

Recommendations:

This can be a fun hut to visit after a light sprinkling of snow. Be aware this can make the track icy and dangerous, so only head up if you're confident in your abilities. Also be aware the hut can get busier after a snowfall.

Because kids won't care so much about the view, that light sprinkle of snow can make it more exciting!

The track is easy enough that it's fine for all ages, but little toddlers will need hands held to help balance on the non-flat track. It does make a great first hut for all ages, but kids that don't like uphill will need extra support.