Image: DOC
Anderson Memorial Hut.
Anderson Memorial Hut

Located in Tararua Forest Park in the Wellington/Kapiti region

This is a standard six-bunk hut in the Kapiti region.

Anderson Memorial Hut is located between Junction Knob (1375 m) and Kahiwiroa peak (1320 m) and is part of the Main Range hut network. It is nestled in bush, but there are good views about 200 m north of the hut.It was built in 1978, in large part using materials recovered from the dismantled Mid-Otaki Hut.

The original hut was built on this site in 1948 by members of the Deer Control Section of Protection Forestry with materials flown in by the Ministry of Works Aerodrome Services. It was the first high-level hut to be air-dropped in New Zealand. It is named after the pilot – Oliver Anderson – who died a year later flying supplies into Fiordland deer cullers.

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

Anderson Memorial Hut is best accessed from Otaki Forks on the western side of the Tararua Ranges, via Waitawaewae Hut.

Ōtaki Forks is 19 km inland from Ōtaki township – approximately 1 hr 30 min drive from Wellington or Palmerston North. The easiest turnoff from SH1 is at Ōtaki Gorge Road, just south of the SH1 bridge over the Ōtaki River. The last 5 km of the Gorge Rd is closed due to a slip. Access is by walking only.

There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road. 

Approximate times from nearest huts

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BP33
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1798584, N5475884