Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
Located in Ruahine Forest Park in the Hawke’s Bay region
Introduction
This is a standard four-bunk hut in the Hawke's Bay region.This hut was built in 1960 by the New Zealand Forest Service for animal control purposes. The hut was upgraded in 1993, with the assistance of members of the Central Hawke’s Bay Shooters Club.
At 1080m above sea level, the hut can experience snow and high rainfall typical of high altitude areas.
The hut was tank water supply and a wood burner 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 passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Hinerua Hut can be accessed via North Block Road or Mill Road.
North Block Road:
Route to Hinerua Hut via North Block Road.
Time: 6 hrs one way
Distance: 8 km
From State Highway 50 turn towards the ranges onto Wakarara Road. After 20 km, turn left into North Block Road and continue to the road end carpark.
The last 4 km of this road is through private farmland; please don’t disturb stock and leave gates as you found them.
Follow the Waipawa River to Smiths Stream Hut track to Smiths Stream Hut.
From Smiths Stream Hut, follow the river to the start of the Hinerua River to Smiths Stream track. Follow the Hinerua River to Smiths Stream track to Hinerua Hut.
This route involves river travel. It’s dangerous to cross or follow the river when the water level is high which can occur during or after heavy rain.
Mill Road:
From State Highway 50 turn onto Makaretu Road, then onto Mill Road. Mill Road becomes gravel after 7 km. Continue to the end of Mill Road and park at the DOC shelter.
Follow the poled route over the unformed legal road to the Tukituki River. Travel up the river to the forest park boundary. Travel off-track within the forest park to Hinerua Hut or to a DOC track that leads to Hinerua Hut.
From Mill Road do not leave the river or unformed legal road until you reach the forest park boundary. Travel via private property is not permitted. Property boundaries are not clearly indicated onsite so please take mapping tools to enable you to monitor that you are travelling via public accessways.
There is no DOC track that runs from Mill Road to Hinerua Hut.
River travel is required. It’s dangerous to cross or follow the river when the water level is high which can occur during or after heavy rain.
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BL36
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1871100, N5582727