Image: DOC
Upper Makarora Hut.
Upper Makaroro Hut

Located in Ruahine Forest Park in the Hawke’s Bay region

This is a standard four-bunk hut in the Hawke's Bay region.

Built in 1956, Upper Makaroro was one of the first huts built in the park by the New Zealand Forest Service specifically for deer control purposes. Between 1956 and the early 1970’s, at least six full time government deer cullers were employed to reduce deer numbers in the park.

It has river water supply and a woodburner for heating.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $10 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $5 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that gives unlimited use at most Standard and Serviced huts for a 12 month period.

About hut tickets and passesRetailers that sell hut tickets and passes

Upper Makaroro Hut can be accessed from Makaroro Road, Wakarara Road or Mangleton Road.

  • From Makaroro car park, follow the Makaroro River upstream to the hut (5-7 hours)
  • From Wakarara Road, follow the track to Parks Peak Hut (4-4.5 hours) then descend steeply for 2km to Upper Makaroro Hut.
  • From Mangleton Road, follow the track to Sentry Box and Parks Peak Huts (3.5 - 4 hours). From Parks Peak Hut, the track descends steeply for 2km to the Upper Makaroro Hut.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BK37
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1876797, N5602741