Located in Banks Peninsula area and Christchurch area in the Canterbury region
Rod Donald Hut is on Te Ara Pātaka which has lambing 1 September – 25 October. The track is open but leave gates as found, do not handle livestock and give them space.
The hut can also be accessed via Port Levy Saddle.
Bunk room in Rod Donald Hut Image: | DOC
Dining area in Rod Donald Hut Image: Jonathan Moake ©
View from Rod Donald Hut Image: Jonathan Moake ©
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.
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.
Pay at the time of booking.
Backcountry Hut Passes and Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.
Bookings are open for stays from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Bookings are planned to open in May 2021, for stays that require bookings from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. The specific date that bookings will open will be added to this page, at least two weeks prior to the date.
Bookings are required all year.
A $10 service fee applies to all phone, email and in-person bookings.
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.
NZTopo50 map sheet: BX24
Grid/NZTM20000 coordinates; E1583679, N5159155
Camping: There isn't any flat ground around the hut to camp on.
Rubbish facilities are not provided - remember to 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 he Rod Donald Trust: manager@roddonaldtrust.co.nz.
Ōtautahi / Christchurch Visitor Centre | |
Phone: | +64 3 379 4082 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | christchurchvc@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
28 Worcester Boulevard Christchurch 8013 |
Postal Address: |
Private Bag 11089 Christchurch 8013 |
Full office details |