This hut is managed by the Greater Wellington Backcountry Network.
The current Waitewaewae Hut was built in 1991 on the banks of the Otaki River, It was built to replace the original hut, located 2 km upstream.
The original hut was built by the Hutt Valley Tramping Club in 1950. The new hut is located on the site of Whareiti bivvy - the first hut in the area, which was built in 1936.
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
The hut is best accessed from the western side of the Tararua Forest Park via the Otaki Forks entrance.
Ōtaki Forks is 19 km inland from Ōtaki township – approximately 1 hr 30 min drive from Wellington or Palmerston North. The easiest turnoff from SH1 is at Ōtaki Gorge Road, just south of the SH1 bridge over the Ōtaki River. The last 5 km of the Gorge Rd is closed due to a slip. Access is by walking only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
Approximate times from nearest road and huts
- Otaki Forks: 6 hr
- Anderson Memorial Hut: 3–4 hr
- Nichols Hut: 5 hr
Tracks to this hut
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Duration: 4-5 days Difficulty: Advanced, Expert -
Duration: 4 days Difficulty: Advanced, Expert -
Duration: 4-5 days Difficulty: Advanced, Expert -
Duration: 5 - 7 hr one way Difficulty: Advanced
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BP33
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1794459, N5477450
Weather forecast
| Wellington/Kapiti information | |
| Phone: | +64 3 546 9339 |
| Email: | nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| About: | Whakatū/Nelson Visitor Centre provides visitor information for this area |