Image: Andrej Ricnik | Creative Commons
Back ridge hut, Hawkes Bay.
Back Ridge Hut

Located in Kaweka Forest Park in the Hawke’s Bay region

Back Ridge Hut is positioned in a useful stopover location to access the central and western areas of the Kaweka Forest Park.
  • Enclosed wood burning stove
  • Meat safe
  • Long drop style toilet
  • Stream water supply

Please replace firewood used for the next occupants.

Note: please respect the rights of others to use the facilities and ensure all rubbish and foodstuffs are removed on departure.

Back Ridge Hut is located in the mid-central area of the Kaweka Forest Park over the back of the main Kaweka Range from Makahu Saddle Carpark. At the foot of a longer spur below the highest Kaweka point of “Kaweka J”, the hut area can experience strong-to-gale north westerly winds or very cold southerly changes, with high levels of precipitation including snow in the winter months. The surrounding terrain is rocky sub-alpine, steep and heavily eroded, with pockets of mountain beech forest beneath the imposing slopes of the main Kaweka Range.

Built in 1957 this hut was an early development of the NZFS SF70 hut that was designed to be aerially dropped from fixed wing aircraft. This 4 bunk hut has been maintained to reflect its original construction. The hut is sited in a sheltered gully approximately 300 metres from the main Back Ridge Track and has a small water supply creek close to the hut door.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $10 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $5 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that gives unlimited use at most Standard and Serviced huts for a 12 month period.

About hut tickets and passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes

Helicopter

The helipad is located 25 metres downstream of the hut on the true left bank of the creek. Flight availability and costs can be obtained from helicopter concessionaires in the central North Island.

Walking

Makahu Saddle Carpark (3 – 4 hr)

From Makahu Saddle a marked, poled track climbs steeply to cross the top of the main Kaweka Range. It drops down a westerly facing spur to reach Back Ridge Hut after 3 to 4 hours. Most of this track is on bare rocky ground and is exposed to the north west winds and gales that are frequent to the main range area.

Rocks Ahead Hut (3 hr)

From Rocks Ahead Hut (Ngaruroro River), a marked track steeply ascends along the ridge for 1.5 hours to Back Ridge Bivouac. The track turns left, ascending gradually to Maminga (1472 metres) before veering right to cross Sterns Saddle. Take the left fork and Back Ridge Hut is 400 metres along the track.

A route from the rear of Back Ridge Hut accesses an alternative ascending spur direct to Kaweka J. There are no marked tracks leading away to the north or south of the hut as the terrain is steep and difficult to traverse.

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BJ37
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1889538, N5647128