Mt Hutt Forest short walks
Track category
Short walk
Description
Rhododendron Walk
Time: 10 min one way
Distance: 500 metres
This pleasant walk follows a stream through native bush and rhododendron plantings.
Te Awa Awa Walk
Time: 15 min one way
Distance: 430 metres
This short walk starts in Awa Awa Rata Reserve and climbs gently through native bush before joining the end of the metalled road through the reserve.
Getting there
Mt Hutt Forest can be accessed from Awa Awa Rata Reserve at the end of McLennans Bush Road, which is off Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road and is 12.5 km from Methven. The area can also be accessed from Mt Hutt Skifield access road. During summer, there is a locked gate at Scotts Saddle; you will need to walk from here.
About the area
Southern rātā
The forest is mostly mountain beech/tawhairauriki, with broadleaf/pāpāuma, Hall's tōtara, fuchsia/kōtukutuku, marble leaf/putaputāweta, kōhūhū and pōkākā. Southern rātā - rare in this part of Canterbury - grows in Scotts Creek and Awa Awa Rata Reserve.
Forest birds include bellbird/korimako, rifleman/tītitipounamu and grey warbler/riroriro. New Zealand pipits/pīhoihoi and occasionally kea are seen above the bushline.
Guides and commercial tourism providers