Image: Celia Casset | Creative Commons
Richmond Saddle Hut.
Richmond Saddle Hut

Located in Mount Richmond Forest Park in the Marlborough region

This is a standard 8-bunk hut in the South Marlborough area.

Richmond Saddle Hut sits in the saddle west of Mt Richmond (1760 m), east of Grass Knob (1495m) and at the head of Armchair Stream. It was built in 1968.

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

Nearest road end to Richmond Saddle Hut

Jacksons Creek Road: 4 hr (6.7 km).

4.9 km north of Renwick, just over the Wairau River bridge, turn off SH6 onto Northbank Road. Follow this for 33.1 km then turn into Top Valley Road. Jacksons Creek Road turns off Top Valley Road.

The marked track follows the prominent ridge.

Mt Fell Hut to Richmond Saddle Hut

Mt Fell Hut: 4 hr (5.2 km)

From Mt Fell Hut there is a 10 minute walk up towards the ridge. Follow the poled route along the ridge, this will then lead to a sidle under Johnstons Peak and through Devils Armchair to Mt Richmond. Parts of the climb to Mt Richmond will be rocky and steep as with the descent of 560 m from the summit to Richmond Saddle Hut.

From Richmond Saddle Hut: Mt Richmond summit

1 hr (1.8 km)

A 560 m climb to the summit of Mt Richmond offers guaranteed amazing views on a fine day. There is a wide variety of alpine plants amongst the snow tussock above the timberline and, although most are small and inconspicuous, mountain daises and gentians are common and generally obvious.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BQ26

Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1631971, N5408581