Frew Hut
Standard hutKokatahi River - Whitcombe River area, West CoastOpen
- Sleeps
- 10 bunks
- Booking
- Not bookable
- Cost
- from $15
- Heating
- Yes
- 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- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BV18
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 43.04959° S, 171.04352° E
About this place
This is a standard 10-bunk hut in the Hokitika area.
On the way here
Toaroha, Hokitika, Lower Whitcombe Track · 4 - 5 days
Frew Saddle Bivouac to Frew Hut
Time: 4 - 5 hr
From the Bivouac follow the poles to Frew Creek. Travel is generally via the creek bed with some sections of track on the true left. The last and longest section of track leads over a high point and drops back into the creek which is then crossed to the true right. From here the track leaves the creek and follows along a bush spur to Frew Hut which is located a short distance above the Whitcombe River near the mouth of Frew Creek. Frew Hut sleeps 10 people on two platforms and is heated by a woodstove.
Frew Hut to Rapid Creek Hut
Time: 3 - 4 hr
From Frew Hut the true right bank of the Whitcombe is followed to the Collier gorge Swingbridge. There is only one section of track to follow, the remainder being boulder hopping close to the river. Cross Collier Gorge swingbridge and follow the track on the true left. Through Collier Gorge the route alternates between scrambling around and over huge boulders near the river and following short sections of track cut around the more difficult parts. Rapid Creek is reached after crossing a forested low terrace and boulder hopping for a further 200 - 300 m. Once across Rapid Creek a further 300-400 m of boulder hopping takes you to a short section of track which leads to Rapid Creek Hut. Rapid Creek Hut contains 4 bunks and is heated by a woodstove.
Whitcombe Pass Track · 3-4 days to Whitcombe Pass
Rapid Creek Hut to Frew Hut
Time: 3 - 4 hr
Following heavy rainfall Rapid Creek quickly becomes impassable. Once across Rapid Creek the Hokitika River bed is followed for a further 300 m before entering the bush to cross a low terrace to join the Whitcombe River just above the Hokitika/Whitcombe Junction. Travel from here to the Collier Gorge Swing Bridge across the Whitcombe River alternates between the riverbed and along sections of track cut through the bush. The river boulders are huge through this section. Cross Collier Gorge Bridge to the true right and travel is via the riverbed to Dick Creek where a short section of track is picked up before dropping back onto the riverbed 1 km below Tom Creek. The route remains on the riverbed until you are below Frew Hut, just downstream of the Frew Creek confluence with the Whitcombe River. Frew Hut is reached by following a short track onto a low terrace above the true right bank of Frew Creek. Frew Hut contains 10 mattresses on two platforms, a table, platforms and a wood stove.
Frew Hut to Price Flat Hut
Time: 5 - 6 hr
From Frew Hut, drop down to Frew creek and cross it. The track re-enters the bushon the true left bank of Frew Creek some 100 m above the Frew Creek/Whitcombe River. After heavy rain Frew Creek becomes impassable. The track travels through the bush above the river. After about one hour it by-passes the Cropp Swing Bridge (do not cross) and drops down to the riverbed for a short distance before re-entering the bush to lead to Vincent Creek swing bridge. Cross this bridge and travel down the true left of Vincent Creek for 30 to 40 metres to a spot where the track leaves the creek bed. Between here and Price Flat the track occasionally returns to the riverbed but generally sidles above the river crossing numerous creeks and slips. These slips are potentially active at times, some of these slips the route markers may have been obliterated and the route may no longer be well defined. Care is needed assess the slip and to locate track entrances before proceeding. Generally exit and entrance points over the slips are at similar levels. Additional time may be required to travel over the slips if rockfall is present, or if recent weather events have worsened the slips. From the lower end of Price Flat the route passes Price Flat Swing Bridge (do not cross). It then returns to the riverbed. Follow the riverbed until a marker pole shows the way onto grassed flats. The historic slab hut on the flat is habitable but there is a more recent hut on the terrace above. This hut is reached via a short section of track which leaves the main valley track between the historic hut and Cataract Creek Swing Bridge. Price Flat Hut has 6 bunks and a wood stove.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Trip options
Walking times come from DOC track descriptions, added up leg by leg from car-accessible trailheads. Nights and return times are ParkUp estimates, allowing about 8 hours of walking a day.
8 options · 1 to 5 nights
Car park
Tracks used: Toaroha, Hokitika, Lower Whitcombe Track → Whitcombe Pass Track
Walking in
7 hr 30 min (via Rapid Creek Hut)
Walking out
7 hr to Road End (via Rapid Creek Hut)
Walking in
7 hr 30 min (via Rapid Creek Hut)
Walking out
7 hr 30 min to Car park (via Rapid Creek Hut)
Walking in
7 hr 30 min (via Rapid Creek Hut)
Walking out
15 hr to Whitcombe Pass (via Price Flat Hut, Neave Creek Hut)
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai track descriptions.
Fees and bookings
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
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Rapid Creek Hut
Standard • 4 bunks • West Coast • 5 km
Rapid Creek Hut is a standard four-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Frew Saddle Bivvy
Basic/bivvies • 2 bunks • West Coast • 5.1 km
Frew Saddle Bivvy is a basic two-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush • Water from stream
Bluff Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • West Coast • 6.8 km
Bluff Hut is a basic six-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Historic Price Flat Hut
Basic/bivvies • 4 bunks • West Coast • 7 km
Historic Price Flat Hut is a basic four-bunk hut in the Hokitika area on the West Coast. It is located on the Whitcombe Pass Route and provides a historic link…
Toilets - non-flush • Water from stream • Water supply
Price Flat Hut
Standard • 7 bunks • West Coast • 7.4 km
Price Flat Hut is a standard seven-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Walks nearby
Contact
Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre
4294 Coast Road, Punakaiki, RD 1 Runanga 7873
Regional DOC service centre.
Notes from people who have been
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Sources
- OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.
- 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.