Fern Burn Hut

Standard hutWānaka area, OtagoOpen

Sleeps
12 bunks
Booking
Not bookable
Cost
from $15
Heating
None
Drinking water
Boil first
Toilet
Non-flush

Getting there

We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.

How to get there, on doc.govt.nz

Rough times from nearest roads and huts:

Topo map
Topo50 sheet CB12
Grid reference
E1282089, N5038118

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Map and tracks

Loading map

Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 44.73976° S, 168.98467° E

Fern Burn Hut, hut in Otago
Photo and data: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai.

About this place

This is a standard 12-bunk hut in the Wānaka area.

On the way here

Motatapu Track · 3 - 4 days

Fern Burn carpark to Fern Burn Hut

Time: 3 - 4 hr, 7 km

The track meanders gently along the true right of the Fern Burn through riparian shrubland and grassy flats before climbing into a forest of mountain, silver and red beech. At this point the Fern Burn narrows and cascades and waterfalls become a feature. The track briefly enters the 4,144 ha Stack Conservation Area, which has other access points from the Spotts Creek and Roys Peak tracks. It is possible for experienced parties to negotiate the conservation area and use these routes. The Motatapu Track continues to the bush edge and then on to upland tussock country and the 12-bunk Fern Burn Hut.

Fern Burn Hut to Highland Creek Hut

Time 3 – 5 hr, 6 km This section is more arduous. It continues along the Upper Fern Burn through tussock country before reaching 1,275-m Jack Hall’s Saddle. The saddle and nearby creek were named after a local shepherd. Then there's a steep descent into a creek bed, before traversing another two ridges descending to Highland Creek. The descent is very slippery in wet weather. The 12-bunk Highland Creek Hut nestles in this spectacular upland basin.

The whole walk

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Fees and bookings

Adult (18+ years)$15 per night
Youth (5–17 years)$7.50 per night
Child/Infant (0–4 years)Free

Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put these 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. Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes Te Araroa – The Trail Pass Te Araroa Trail Pass

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

On these tracks

Motatapu TrackAdvanced • 49 km • 3 - 4 days

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Contact

Wānaka Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park

Regional DOC service centre.

Notes from people who have been

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Sources

  • DOC Huts (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).
  • DOC Huts · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
  • OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.