• 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

There is a helipad 25 metres behind the hut. Flight availability and costs can be obtained from helicopter concessionaires in the central North Island.

Walking

Tussock Hut can be reached by:

Boyd's Lodge (3 hr)

From Boyd's Lodge in the Kaimanawa Forest Park allow 3 hours travel time, but take care that fording the Ngaruroro River is safe following heavy rainfall.

Makahu Saddle Carpark, Kaweka Road (at least 2 days)

The track starts at the carpark and climbs over the main Kaweka Range (1700 metres) via a poled track passing a side track to Ballard Hut. The track continues to Tira Lodge and Te Puke Hut down past Harkness Hut before heading north up Tussock Valley to Tussock Hut.

Some caution may be required during adverse weather conditions on the exposed open tops.

Makahu Roadend (at least 2 days)

This track starts at the roadend for Makino Hut and climbs steadily up to Makino Hut. The track then heads down into the Makino River valley, rising up to the Mangaturutu Tops and Mangaturutu Hut. From here the track passes Te Puke Hut down past Harkness Hut before heading north up Tussock Valley to Tussock Hut.

Tramping

Tussock Hut is well situated for brief or overnight stops when heading to further points throughout the park and also as a ‘through’ trip from the Kaimanawa Forest Park to the eastern boundaries of the Kaweka Forest Park. For example a tramp from Makahu Saddle car park would require 2 to 3 days or approximately 17 hours travel time with a full pack.

From Tussock Hut, formed tracks lead south to Harkness Hut (up to 3 hours) and west to Boyd's Lodge (reached after 2.5 hours by fording the Ngaruroro River). By continuing south and following the Ngaawapurua (Harkness) Stream, Ngaawapurua Hut can be reached at the junction of the Ngaruroro River and Harkness stream (5 hours).

Kaweka Forest Park access conditions

We recommend 4WD vehicles to reduce wear on the road and safe travel.

• Lotkow Road: The river crossings are regularly changing, check before crossing.
• Lakes carpark is accessible via Kuripapango road. The previous access Castle Rock road is now closed due to ongoing forestry operations.
• Lawrence Carpark access road: The last 600 m of the road is steep and not recommended for 2WD vehicles - a parking space is available before the descent. The Lawrence swing bridge has been removed.
• Mackintosh car park is currently closed due to ongoing forestry operations. A new parking location can be located at a skid site near the closed gate (end of Kuripapango Road), this will add on 500 m walking to reach the start of the track.
• Whittle Road: Be aware of trucks using the quarry. Give them right of way where possible.