New hut for popular West Coast walk
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
DOC is about to start work on the rebuild of Manson Nicholls Memorial Hut located at Lake Daniell near Maruia on the West Coast of the South Island.Date: 03 April 2019
The hut site is situated on the Lake Daniell Track. The new 20 bunk hut will be built to accommodate school groups, families and people seeking an easy tramp or first tramping experience. The hut will also include a volunteer hut warden’s quarters.
The existing hut is almost 40 years old and was built to honour three trampers who died when a hut in the area was destroyed by a landslide.
DOC Works Officer Cameron Jones says the hut is being built to accommodate people who might not have been tramping before and will include features to make it more accessible for a wider range of people.
“These include having lower bench heights and basins for children, grab rails in the toilets, decks flush with hut floor level, lower heights for some of the bunks and doorways and sufficient space inside to allow people in a wheelchair to manoeuvre inside the hut.
“DOC recognises the health benefits of people being out in nature and the need to create more opportunities for a wider range of people to experience the many benefits of time outdoors. Access to nature benefits individuals across every stage of the life span.”
While the work is underway at the site, the campsite adjacent to the hut will still be open.
The existing hut will be pulled down after Easter, and preparation work will begin before winter. Construction of the new hut will begin in spring and it is expected the hut will be open by the end of February 2020.
Contact
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
