Zekes Hut Track
Track category
Tramping track
Time:
2 hr 30 min - 3 hr 30 min
Description
From the carpark the track heads across farmland, skirting around a swampy piece and jumping a small stream on the way. It climbs up to reach a stile over a fence marking the forest boundary.
Enter the sanctuary and enjoy a short flat section before doing the main climb on the track. A steep piece in the middle needs a little more effort. Towards the top it begins to flatten out and passes Hihitahi Trig with fantastic views to the central North Island mountains.
The track continues on then heads down a grassy slip before sidling around and down into the valley to the old hut site. The new one is 200m further on past this.
Getting there
Zekes Hut is in the Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary which lies between Taihape and Waiouru. Travelling north, access to the track is off SH1 on the right beginning at a DOC sign about 17 km north of Taihape.
About the area
The large Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary contains a fine example of the montane forest typical of wetter mountain areas such as this.
Of particular renown is its stands of pahautea (native cedar) and Hall's Totara, which have been the basis for many scientific studies over the years. Visible collapse of this forest type has prompted research on the impacts of possum browsing on both species. Possum control is an important part of today's management of this forest.
The current hut was built to replace the old 3 bunk hut in 2007 and is located about 200m past the site of the old hut. It sleeps 4 and has a wood stove.
Plan and prepare
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
Location map
