Julia Hut
Basic/bivvies hutKelly Range – Styx River area, West CoastOpen
- Sleeps
- 4 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 BV20
- Grid reference
- E1471329, N5249372
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. 42.89742° S, 171.42401° E
About this place
This is a standard six-bunk hut in the Hokitika area.
On the way here
Taipo River Track to Harman Pass · 2 days
Mid Taipo Hut to Julia Hut
Time: 2 - 3 hr
From Mid Taipo Hut head upstream for about 1500 m to the Mid Taipo Swing Bridge. Using the bridge, cross to the true right bank and continue up river. From this point on the track crosses various side streams and alternates between riverbed and bush travel. A three wire bridge gives access across Tumbledown Creek. The old Julia Hut (an open fireplace and loads of character) is in a clearing on a terrace just upstream of a large tarn. The newer hut is a few minutes further along the track, on a lower terrace. A short track leads from the front door down to the Taipo River. Approximately 450 m downstream on the true right of the Taipo some hot springs can be located on the river’s edge (follow your nose as you get closer). You may need to dig them out to create a pool. Don’t put your head under the water as there is a risk of contracting amoebic meningitis.
Julia Hut to Harman Pass
Time: 3 - 4 hours
From Julia Hut follow the track upstream then cross the Mary Creek Swing Bridge. The track climbs and sidles above Mary Creek before eventually dropping down to the creek bed. Initially travel remains on the true left but after half an hour or so marker poles lead you across to the true right and up toward the gorge in Mary Creek. Cross the creek below the gorge and follow the markers climbing and sidling high to avoid the gorge. Keep following the marker poles, dropping into and crossing Mary Creek above the gorge and climbing through easy bluffs to Harman Pass. In misty/cloudy conditions it is difficult to see the poles and care should be taken to locate and follow them.
Harman Pass Route · 3 - 4 days
Harman Pass – Julia Hut
Time: 4 hr
From the large cairn on Harman Pass veer down and slightly right and survey your route ahead carefully. Be aware that there is an intersection of routes here. Ensure that you are following the correct route towards Mary Creek; do not follow the route towards Ariels Tarns and Whitehorn Pass. Head for the marker pole down the slope and on the right. The route is marked with poles through the bluffs down to Mary Creek. Cross the creek and climb to the terrace by scrambling up an obvious worn trail in the low bluffs. Route-marker poles show the way across the terrace to the open riverbed of Mary Creek. The descent to Mary Creek is relatively steep with low vegetation. Boulder-hop downstream following the marker poles crossing the creek as needed until a large orange marker on the true left. Here the track to Julia Hut starts. This track is well marked with orange markers. Follow the track to the swing bridge that crosses Mary Creek a few hundred metres above its confluence with Julia Creek. Cross this bridge and follow the track for 300 metres to Julia Hut. The newer Julia Hut has 6 bunks and an efficient stove. The older Julia Hut (4 bunks) is a few minutes further down the track.
Julia Hut – Seven Mile Creek (Dillon Hut)
Time: 6 hr
Follow the track down the true right of Taipo River and over the 3-wire bridge across Tumbledown Creek. It takes 2 hours to reach the swing bridge across the Taipo. Mid Taipo Hut (6 bunks) is about 20 minutes downstream from the bridge across scrubby flats. From the hut continue over open flats for a short distance before entering the forest and crossing Hura Creek. After heavy rain Hura Creek quickly becomes impassable. Once across Hura Creek follow the river flats for 5 to 10 minutes until a section of track climbs and bypasses a gorge. Continue over easy flats or in the riverbed on the true left of the main Taipo River until the river narrows. Dunns Creek and other side creeks are forded along the way – in heavy rain these side creeks rise quickly and may become impassable. Care is required climbing an extremely steep route up a fresh landslide area and over a bluff to a new 3-wire bridge that crosses the Taipo River. This bridge is high above the river and trampers should be confident with using this type of structure prior to taking this part of the route. Walking poles, ice-axes etc should be securely stowed on your pack prior to crossing the bridge. From the 3-wire bridge, continue across bouldery riverbed and gorse-covered flats toward Dillon Hut. Orange poles mark the easiest way. Alternatively, a little further on from Dillon Hut is the old Dillons homestead. This is an older alternative with considerable character.
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.
4 options · 2 nights
Harman Pass
Tracks used: Harman Pass Route → Taipo River Track to Harman Pass
Walking in
4 hr
Walking out
12 hr to SH73 (via Carrington Hut)
SH73
Walking in
12 hr (via Carrington Hut)
Walking out
3 hr to SH73
Tracks used: Harman Pass Route → Taipo River Track to Harman Pass
Walking in
12 hr (via Carrington Hut)
Walking out
4 hr to Harman Pass
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
Mid Taipo Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • West Coast • 5.5 km
Mid Taipo Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Dillon Hut
Standard • 10 bunks • West Coast • 13.4 km
Dillon Hut is a standard 10-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Dillons Homestead Hut
Basic/bivvies • 5 bunks • West Coast • 13.6 km
Dillons Homestead Hut is a basic five-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Carrington Hut
Serviced • 36 bunks • Canterbury • 7.2 km
Carrington Hut is a serviced 36-bunk hut located in the North Canterbury and Arthur's Pass area.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Carroll Hut
Standard • 10 bunks • West Coast • 15.8 km
Carroll Hut is a standard 10-bunk hut located in the Hokitika area of the West Coast.
Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush • Water from stream
Walks nearby
Three Passes Route
Expert • 4 - 5 days • 7.73 km away
Otira Valley Track
Advanced • 1 hr one way • 1.7 km • 10.15 km away
Arahura and Styx valleys tracks
Advanced • 2–4 days • 11 km • 10.43 km away
Bealey Valley Track
Easy • 25 min • 1.2 km • 10.53 km away
Avalanche Peak - Crow River Route
Expert • 2 days • 10.64 km away
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
- 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.