Kime Hut
Located in Ōtaki Forks area and Tararua Forest Park in the Wellington/Kapiti region
Introduction
Kime is a standard 20 bunk hut on the Southern Crossing.Facilities
- Mattresses
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Kime Hut is located in the western Tararua Forest Park, below Hut Mound (1440m). It is part of the popular Southern Crossing, offering an alpine refuge.
This hut sits above the bushline – there is no heating so it can get very cold.
Heritage
The first Kime Hut was opened in June 1930. It was named after E. J. Kime, who died on the Southern Crossing in 1922. During the 1930s, it was a popular skiing base. In 1978, the Tararua Tramping Club (with assistance from the New Zealand Forest Service) replaced the original hut. The current hut was built and opened in 2014.
Fees
- Adult (18+ years): $5 per night
- Youth (11 – 17 years): $2.50 per night
- Child/Infant (0 – 10 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 6 or 12-month period.
Kime Hut is best accessed via Otaki Forks.
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 Ōtaki Gorge Road is unsealed, narrow and windy – drive carefully.
Approximate times from nearest huts
- Otaki Gorge Road end: 5–6 hr
- Field Hut: 2–3 hr
- Cone Hut via Neill Ridge: 6–7 hr
- Alpha Hut: 3–4 hr
- Maungahuka Hut: 4 hr
Tracks to this hut
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BP33
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1791234, N5465106
Contacts
| Kapiti Wellington Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 4 384 7770 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | wellingtonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
18 - 32 Manners Street Wellington 6011 |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 10420 The Terrace Wellington 6143 |
| Full office details | |
