Image: Shay van der Hurk | DOC
Small hut with balcony on a grassy hillside.
Kahikatea Lodge Hut

Located in Moeraki area in the Otago region

This is a basic six bunk hut in the North Otago area.

Kahikatea Lodge is a 6-bunk standard DOC hut owned and managed by the New Zealand Deerstalkers - North Otago Branch.

Bookings are necessary and must be made by text to +64 27 634 6613.

Facilities

Facilities on site include: a composting toilet, a wood burner, water tanks, solar power, meat safe and bench.

Fees

All donations go to hut maintenance.

Sunday to Thursday

  • Adult: $10 per night
  • Youth/child: $5 per night

Friday and/or Saturday night

  • Adult: $20 per night
  • Youth/child: $10 per night

Long Weekends and Roar Permits

  • Adult: $40 per adult per stay
  • Youth/child: $20 per night

Note: Financial members of NZ Deerstalkers Association are entitled to 10% discount. If you are a financial member of the North Otago Branch you may request the combination number to gain access to the club’s cupboard and their cooking facilities. The combination will be changed periodically.

Bookings

Owned and administered by the North Otago Branch of the New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association, this hut is available to all, but prior booking is necessary.

You must contact the Hut Custodian via text: +64 27 634 6613 (no verbal messages will be accepted).

The hut is at the end of the Kahikatea Route, starting at Waianakarua Scenic Reserve Carpark.

Turn onto Mt Misery Road, 4 km south of Herbert on SH1. Continue along for 15 km, through Glencoe Run to the carpark. Glencoe Run is a working farm and this section of road is suitable for 4WD vehicles only. Follow the orange markers.

Kahikatea Route is signposted at the carpark.

Logging trucks and farm vehicles use this road frequently, keep to the left, drive with your headlights on, and drive to the conditions.

Tracks to this hut

Location

Waianakarua Scenic Reserve. Access is via Mount Misery Road. GPS Location: NZTM E: 1416263.6075 N: 4984215.5824. 

This hut was built and is owned by the North Otago Branch of the New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association.

Challenging conditions with rapidly changing weather

The Waianakarua Scenic Reserve is exposed and weather can change rapidly. Creeks can rise rapidly due to heavy or prolonged rain. Make a safe decision and be prepared to turn back.

Fires prohibited

Fires could rapidly destroy this special place and put you, and others, at risk. Do not light fires.

Road access

The road to the carpark is recommended for four-wheel drives only and passes through a privately owned working farm.

Forestry trucks operate on the first part of Mount Misery Road. Take due care when driving on the gravel road and expect traffic.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in this reserve with a hunting permit. Access to the route is over private land, you must have dogs contained in your vehicle while driving and dogs must be on a lead when walking to the reserve from the carpark.

Hunting

Hunting in the Waianakarua Scenic Reserve is balloted during the roar period of 20 March to 20 April. For hunting information visit: Waianakarua hunting: Coastal Otago north of the Catlins, Otago