Image: Kane Sayer | DOC
Kelly Knight Hut.
Kelly Knight Hut

Located in Ruahine Forest Park in the Manawatu/Whanganui region

This is a standard eight-bunk hut in the Manawatu.

Facilities

  • Water source - river
  • Heating source - woodstove
  • Bunks - platform

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put these 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.

Booking and paying | Backcountry Hut Tickets | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes

No track runs directly from the Forest Park boundary to Kelly Knight hut. Expert navigational skills are needed, and caution while exposed to strong winds at the tops of the range.

Access the hut is via Mania Road, Rangiwahia and takes about 8 hours on foot. Park at the road end and follow the Mania Road To Whanahuia Range track to the end of the track.

From here the track ends, and there are no track markers or signage. 

Walk along the tops to the Maungahue High Point then follow the tops to meet the Kelly Knight Hut to Pourangaki Hut track.

Follow the track northwest to reach the hut. The walk on the tops are exposed and strong winds are common – caution is required.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BL36
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1861210, N5584410

  • There are no track markers or signage on parts of this route - expert navigational skills are needed,
  • Take care when traveling the exposed tops of the range as strong winds are common.