Image: DOC
Rod Donald Hut
Rod Donald Hut

Located in Banks Peninsula area and Christchurch area in the Canterbury region

This is a serviced nine-bunk hut in the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula area.

This hut is owned and maintained by the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust.

It sits on a 10 ha private property of mainly regenerating native bush protected by a QEII covenant. It offers wonderful views over the Little River area and surrounding hills.

Facilities

  • Verandah
  • Lounge with stove for heating the hut – not suitable for cooking, firewood supplied
  • Bunk room
  • Solar lighting
  • Tank water – should be boiled or treated before using
  • Composting toilet

What to bring

  • Cooking stove, pots, pans
  • Sleeping bag
  • Toilet paper

Heritage

The hut was originally built as a private cabin in the early 1990s. The Rod Donald Trust purchased it in 2014 and upgraded it to meet the DOC Serviced Hut standards, before formally opening it to the public in November 2015. At the opening ceremony local Kaumatua James Robinson from Wairewa lifted the tapu alongside Rod Donald's father, partner and daughters. Rod Donald had a deep love for Banks Peninsula and is buried at St Andrew's church near Little River, in the valley below the hut.

Fees

Sunday to Thursday

  • Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
  • Child/Youth (5-17 years): $12.50 per night
  • Infant (0-4 years): free

Friday and Saturday

  • Adult (18+ years): $35 per night
  • Child/youth (5–17 years): $17.50 per night
  • Infant: (0-4 years): free

Backcountry Hut Passes and Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.

Bookings

Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2025.

All bookings are first-come first-served. We do not have waiting lists for bookings for future seasons or facilities that are already booked-out.

Bookings are required all year.

Book Rod Donald Hut online

A $10 service fee applies to phone and in-person booking. This is a limited service – book online first. An in-person booking is dependent on there being space available.

Your hut booking is for any bunk bed, not for a specific bunk bed – select your bunk bed on arrival.

The hut is a 50 minute walk from Port Levy Saddle via the Te Ara Pātaka track. Port Levy Saddle can be accessed either from the car park at the top of the Western Valley Road from Little River, or via the Te Ara Pātaka track from Montgomery Scenic Reserve.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BX24
Grid/NZTM20000 coordinates; E1583679, N5159155

Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway cannot be walked completely from end to end (Gebbies Pass to Hilltop) during lambing season.

Camping: There isn't any flat ground around the hut to camp on.

Rubbish facilities are not provided – take all your rubbish, including nappies, out with you.

There is no vehicle access to the hut under any circumstances. To enquire about taking youth or conservation groups to the hut contact the Rod Donald Trust: manager@roddonaldtrust.co.nz