Image: DOC
French Ridge Hut.
French Ridge Hut

Located in Matukituki Valley area and Mount Aspiring National Park in the Otago region

This is an alpine serviced 20-bunk hut in the Wanaka/Makarora area. This hut is an NZ Alpine Club hut.

This hut is owned and maintained by the New Zealand Alpine Club. It is available for the public to use.

French Ridge Hut is located near the end of the tussock, just below the snow line. It has excellent views across Gloomy Gorge to Rob Roy and the west face of Avalanche. To the north-west the view sweeps around Hector Col, Mts Barff, Liverpool, Cascade Saddle and beyond. 

It is an ovenight stop for ascents of Mount Aspiring. 

Information about French Ridge Hut on NZ Alpine Club website. 

You'll need to take:

  • sleeping bag
  • stove and fuel
  • pots/pans and utensils
  • toilet paper
  • rubbish bag (to pack out all rubbish, including food scraps)
  • torch.

Fees

Backcountry Hut Passes and Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.

  • Adult non-members (18+ years): $40
  • New Zealand Alpine Club member Adult: $20
  • New Zealand Alpine Club member Youth Youth (11–17 years): $10
  • Youth non-members (11–17 years): $20
  • Child/Infant (0–10 years): free

Bookings

Pay when you book online. Bookings are required all year.

Book French Ridge Hut online. 

Bookings for the 2026/27 season open at 12 noon on Tuesday 12 May 2026.  

  • If no availability shows online for your dates, the hut is fully booked.
  • No spaces are kept for visitors arriving without a booking.
  • Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee.
  • Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain.

A $10 service fee applies to all phone, email and in-person bookings. New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) members applying for their discount will not be charged this fee.
Approximate time from nearest road end and hut
  • Raspberry Creek car park (Wanaka Mt Aspiring Road) via West Matukituki track to Pearl Flat and French Ridge Track: 6–7 hr 30 min (16.2 km)
  • From Aspiring Hut via West Matukituki to Pearl Flat and French Ridge Track: 4–5 hr (7.2 km)

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: CA11
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1257248, N5071498

Large group bookings

A single group can only book up to 50% of the hut – 10 beds.

If you are a group of 10 people, you need to fill in a large group notification form as well as making your online booking. Contact wanakavc@doc.govt.nz at least two weeks before your departure date to ask for the form. The form is not a booking.

Radio communications

From October to the end of April, there will be a hut ranger present at Aspiring Hut. They will call French Ridge on the radio each evening between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm to provide an up-to-date weather forecast. The radio and instructions for use can be found in the kitchen/dining room.