Hut categories
Huts are more basic than backpacker hostels. They do not have showers, hot water, cooking and eating utensils or bed linen and you cannot buy food or equipment. Make sure you have everything you need before you set out. The Mountain Safety Council brochure Going Bush? has a gear list.
Each hut is unique but the facilities and services provided in or near huts are divided into five categories:
Great Walk Huts
Great Walk huts are the most comfortable. They have mattresses, water supply, toilets, hand washing facilities and heating with fuel available. They may have solar lighting, cooking facilities with fuel and a hut warden.
Fees: $15 – $45 (adult) depending on the season. Under 18s are free. Find out about the Great Walk Pass.
Serviced Huts
Serviced huts have mattresses, water supply, toilets, hand washing facilities and heating with fuel available. They may have cooking facilities with fuel and a warden.
Fees:* $15/$5 (adult/youth). The Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Tickets are required. Note: Pinnacles Hut (Coromandel), Sandy Bay Hut (Te Urewera NP), and the Orongorongo Valley Huts (Wellington) require booking all year. Backcountry Hut Passes or Tickets are not valid.
Club huts including Serviced Alpine Huts
There are a variety of other huts on conservation land that are open to the public. These include Recreation Club Huts such as the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) huts in Aoraki/Mt Cook, Westland and Mt Aspiring National Parks and Private Bush Cabins.
They have mattresses, a water supply, toilets and hand washing facilities. They may have heating and cooking facilities and some require a booking. The DOC Hut Pass or Hut Tickets are generally not valid at club huts and bookings may be required. For specific fee details see individual club hut pages.
Standard Huts
Standard huts have mattresses, water supply and toilets. Wood heaters are provided at huts below the bush line.
Fees:* $5. The Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Tickets are required.
Basic Huts
Basic huts provide very basic shelter with limited facilities.
Fees: No charge. Hut tickets not required.
* Standard and Serviced Hut fees: Please note there are some exceptions, where this is the case it is noted on the individual hut information page.
Backcountry campsites
Campsites with very basic facilities are maintained near many huts. Hut facilities may be used unless otherwise stated. Please follow minimal impact practice.
- Great Walk campsites are 25-75% of the adult hut fee. Under 18s are free.
- Backcountry campsites at Serviced huts, fees are $5 per adult, $2.50 per youth. Children are free.
- Backcountry campsites at Standard and Basic huts are free.
Age category
- Adult: 18+ years
- Youth: 11-17 years
- Child: 5-10 years
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