Image: DOC
Waiau Hut.
Waiau Hut

Located in St James Conservation Area in the Canterbury region

This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the St James Conservation Area.

Waiau Hut is in a sheltered clearing on the Waiau River.

It was designed to accommodate extra demand from trampers on the Te Araroa Trail and was made possible by the support of a generous benefactor.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy a hut ticket online for each night's stay. You can print or display the digital ticket on your device, or write down the ticket and confirmation numbers to take with you. You can also buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that allows you to stay at non-bookable DOC huts for a 12 month period.

Backcountry hut ticket terms and conditions

Te Araroa – The Trail Pass

Te Araroa Trail walkers should register and purchase the Te Araroa Trail Pass.

Bookings

The hut is on Waiau Pass Track, which connects Nelson Lakes National Park and St James Conservation Area.

Nearest hut and access point

  • Blue Lake Hut: 10 to 12 hrs via Lewis Pass – Waiau Pass – Blue Lake Route
  • Waiau River: 2 hrs. Waiua River can be accessed via the Maling Pass 4WD track.

Find out about motorised vehicle access.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BT24
Grid/NZTM 2000 coordinates: E1572023, N5330158

Keep alpine lakes and tarns free of lindavia (lake snow)

The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water.

Make sure all your gear is completely dry for 48 hours before swimming or taking water from any alpine lake or tarn, including Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus.

Use the biosecurity cleaning stations at Coldwater Hut, Lakehead Hut and Sabine Hut to disinfect any boots, socks, clothing, towels or drink bottles that are wet or damp from lake or river water. 

Do not touch the water in Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance.

Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa.