Aokaparangi Hut

Tararua Forest Park

Aokaparangi Hut (2 bunks, matresses, tank water): A tidy, well insulated 2-bunk hut on the bush-line overlooking the Waiohine River. There's no fire (despite the abundance of firewood), but it's fully lagged and double glazed and didn't take long to heat up with body-heat whilst around zero outside. Certainly makes a more cozy option than the cavernous and cold Maungahuka Hut.

The only down-side is the 200m drop off the Aokaparangi summit to the hut, which must be climbed again in the morning - or, if you're coming from Mid Waiohine the fact that you have to pass the the hut - 'just over there across that scrubby gully' - and continue to climb another 200m before dropping back down the correct spur.

Too many great tramps pass through here to list, including:

- Tararua Main Ridge

- Tararua Middle Crossing from Holdsworth to Otaki

- Loop from Otaki Forks via Y2YY, Andsersons, Maungahuka & Field

Aokaparangi Hut, Tararuas

by John Saunders

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Access

Holdsworth Roadend: Holdsworth -> Powell (2-4hrs, +1000m) -> Mid Waiohine (2-4 hrs, -1200m) -> Here (2-4 hrs, +1000m). Track - very steep!

Kaitoke / Otaki Forks: -> Field/Kime -> Maungahuka (4-8 hrs) -> Here (2-4 hrs). Exposed ridgeline route

Arete: Arete -> Dracophylum (2.5-5hrs) -> Nichols (2.5-5hrs) -> Andersons Memorial (2.5-5hrs) -> Here (2-4hrs). Track

Otaki Forks: Forks -> Waitawaewae (3-6hrs) -> Andersons (3-6hrs) -> Here (2-4hrs). Track