Image: Brian Dobbie | ©
Iron clad beige DOC hut with terracotta roof and small balcony with tussocks in the foreground and trees and blue sky behind.
Parks Peak Hut

Located in Ruahine Forest Park in the Manawatu/Whanganui and Hawke’s Bay regions

This is a standard six-bunk hut in the Hawke's Bay region.

Parks Peak Hut was originally built in 1960 by the New Zealand Forest Service and replaced in 2008 by DOC.  The hut was named after Robert Park, the first Surveyor General in the Hawke’s Bay. On some earlier maps the nearby trig point, Pohatuhaha was called Parks Peak.

The hut is situated on a very exposed ridge at 1320 m altitude. It has tank water supply and a woodburner for heating.

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

There are many ways to access Parks Peak Hut. A few options are listed below, all involve a long, strenuous climb.

From Wakarara Road End: 10 km, 4 - 5 hr

This road end is approximately 75 km from Napier. Turn onto Wakarara Road from SH50 and follow for approximately 26.5 km to the end of Wakarara Road. Continue along the road, past the Parks Peak Station sign to the carpark, indicated by DOC signs. There is no vehicle access to the Ruahine Forest Park from the Wakarara Road end. You will need to cross the Makaroro River.
Cross the river and follow the Parks Peak Hut Track, which branches off the Yeomans Track. The track goes through beech forest then climbs north up a ridge to the hut. 

From Masters Shelter: 13.5 km, 6 hr

Mangleton Road is reached via Big Hill Road. Follow SH50 to Maraekakaho and turn into Kereru Road. On reaching Kereru, turn onto Big Hill Road. The turnoff to Mangleton Road is on the left. 10 km along Mangleton Road, a sign marks the start of a public right of way to Masters Shelter. Continue uphill then head along the top of the range to Pohatuhaha Trig. From here, follow the track south to Parks Peak Hut. 

From Sentry Box Hut: 6.4 km, 2 hr 40 min

Sentry Box Hut is just past Masters Shelter. Follow instructions to Masters Shelter, then continue on Mangleton Road past the Shelter for another 10 min (6.5km). Park at the DOC signs on the side of Mangleton Road. Follow the track for 10 min to Sentry Box Hut. From Sentry Box Hut, follow the track to Pohatuhaha Trig Track – this involves a steep climb (2 hr, 4 km). At the junction, turn left onto the Sentry Box Track Junction to Parks Peak Track and follow the ridge for (40 min, 2.4 km) to Parks Peak Hut.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BK37
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1878798, N5602942

Stay safe when crossing rivers

If you plan to cross unbridged rivers, know how to cross safely and be prepared for if you cannot cross.

Do not cross if the river is flooded, you cannot find safe entry and exit points or are unsure it’s safe. Turn back or wait for the river to drop. If in doubt, stay out.

How to cross rivers safely