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.
Getting there
Kime Hut is best accessed via Otaki Forks.
Otaki Forks is 19 km inland from Otaki township – approx. 1 hr 30 min drive from Wellington or Palmerston North. The easiest turnoff from SH1 is at Otaki Gorge Road, just south of the SH1 bridge over the Otaki River. The last 5 km of the Otaki Gorge Road is unsealed, narrow and windy – drive carefully.
Approximate times from nearest huts
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BP33
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1791234, N5465106
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.
Read more about hut tickets and passes | Find retailers that sell hut tickets