No Man's Road area tramping tracks
Track category
Tramping track
Description
Fishing on the Taruarau River
No Man's Road to Diane's Hut
Time: 1 hr
Five kilometres along No Man's Road from the Ruahine Hut turnoff, the road continues south west to reach Lessong's Monument, built by the surveyor Lessong in the 1880's. Eight hundred metres from the monument a track heads north from the road to reach Diane's Hut.
Dianes Hut to Taruarau Bivvy
Time: 2 hr - 2 hr 30 min
From Dianes Hut a track climbs steeply to the Taruarau Ridge (1 hour) and then to Taruarau Bivvy (a further 15 minutes). The track passes through beech forest and tussock scrub. There are views to the Kaweka Range.
No Man's Road to Dead Dog Hut
Time: 2 hr
3 kilometres from Lessong's Monument a track leaves No Man's Road heading east and descends steeply to Dead Dog Hut.
Dead Dog Hut to Herricks Hut
Time: 2 hr 30 min - 3 hr
To reach Herrick Hut, follow the river for approximately 3 kilometres to reach a sign which marks a side track leading to the hut (a further 3 kilometres).
Ruahine Hut to Shutes Hut track
Time: 5 - 6 hr
After travelling 5 kilometres on No Man's Road from the park boundary, a short 4WD track leads to Ruahine Hut. The track to Shutes Hut starts on the upper edge of the clearing by Ruahine Hut and heads north through regenerating manuka and kanuka and beech forest.
Shutes Hut was built in 1920 and is an old rabbiters hut made of stone and held together with cement that was manually packed into the remote area. The first, and for many years the only, regular occupant was Alex Shute who led a solitary life rabbiting. He planted a small orchard nearby as well as pine and gum trees.
The hut stands in a grassy clearing surrounded by pine trees. The area is popular for hunting and the nearby Taruarau river is noted for its trout fishing.
Getting there
No Man's Road is reached via Big Hill Road. Big Hill Road is approximately 45 km from Hastings or 60 km from Napier. Follow State Highway 50 to Maraekakaho and turn right into Kereru Road. On reaching Kereru, turn right into Big Hill Road.
No Man's Road is a 22 kilometre, 4WD road that climbs to the open tops of the north eastern Ruahine Range. It provides access to a varied network of huts and tracks for hunters and trampers.
Visitors wishing to use No Man's Road require an access permit - application details.