Mt Rintoul Hut
Standard hutMount Richmond Forest Park, MarlboroughOpen
- Sleeps
- 6 bunks
- Booking
- Can book
- 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.nzTarn Hut: 5 hr (9 km)
Old Man Hut: 5 hr (4.5 km)
The track to Mt Rintoul Hut is rocky and exposed and involves some scrambling – take particular care and be prepared to wait out adverse weather.
From the head of the Old Man Hut access track, the main track climbs through bush and then above the bushline to the summit of Little Rintoul (1643 m). It then descends 250 m following poles to a low saddle before climbing steeply again to the summit of Mt Rintoul (1731 m).
Beyond Mt Rintoul’s summit the poled route traverses the ridgeline before dropping steeply down scree slopes to the bushline. From here a marked track leads to Mt Rintoul Hut.
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BR26
- Grid reference
- E1618405, N5403506
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. 41.51924° S, 173.22063° E
About this place
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the South Marlborough area.
On the way here
Richmond Ranges Te Araroa route · 8 days
Old Man Hut to Mt Rintoul Hut
Time: 5 hr
A sign-posted access track leads back to the main ridge, from which the Richmond Ranges Te Araroa Track climbs up blocky scree to the summit of Little Rintoul (1643 m). The route descends 250 m down a rocky ridge to a saddle, then climbs steeply again to the Mt Rintoul summit (1731 m). This is the highest point of the track and is also the most difficult part. The terrain is steep and broken and can be treacherously icy during winter. Particular care should be taken. From the summit, the route descends the summit ridge before dropping down scree slopes to the bush line. A short track then leads to Mt Rintoul Hut. Both the hut and Mt Rintoul summit offer magnificent views, particularly over the Waimea Plains and Tasman Bay. From Old Man Hut, it is also possible to head directly down to the Goulter River. Mt Rintoul Hut
Mt Rintoul Hut to Tarn Hut
Time: 5 hr
From Rintoul Hut, the Richmond Ranges Te Araroa Track leads through mountain beech forest to climb the scree and rock faces of Purple Top (1532 m), before descending down the main summit ridge. The route then sidles across the southern face of Bishops Cap (1425 m) to join the main forested spur to the south. Tarn Hut is located at the edge of a small tarn, to the east of the main ridge, and is reached on a sign-posted access track. Tarn Hut
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 · 3 to 7 nights
Hacket road end
Walking in
18 hr 30 min (via Starveall Hut, Slaty Hut, Old Man Hut)
Walking out
18 hr 30 min to Hacket road end (via Starveall Hut, Slaty Hut, Old Man Hut)
Walking in
18 hr 30 min (via Starveall Hut, Slaty Hut, Old Man Hut)
Walking out
19 hr to Goulter road end (via Tarn Hut)
Roadend
Walking in
31 hr (via Captains Creek Hut, Middy Creek Hut, Rocks Hut, Browning Hut, Hacket Hut, Starveall Hut, Slaty Hut, Old Man Hut)
Walking out
31 hr to Roadend (via Captains Creek Hut, Middy Creek Hut, Rocks Hut, Browning Hut, Hacket Hut, Starveall Hut, Slaty Hut, Old Man 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 Te Araroa – The Trail Pass Te Araroa Trail Pass
Book Mt Rintoul Hut online
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Old Man Hut
Standard • 5 bunks • Marlborough • 4.2 km
Old Man Hut is a standard five-bunk hut located in the South Marlborough area.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Tarn Hut
Standard • 5 bunks • Marlborough • 5.7 km
Tarn Hut is a standard five-bunk hut located in the South Marlborough area.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Slaty Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Marlborough • 6.1 km
Slaty Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Nelson/Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Starveall Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Tasman • 6.9 km
Starveall Hut is a standard 6-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Mid Wairoa Hut
Standard • 8 bunks • Tasman • 10 km
Mid Wairoa Hut is a standard 8-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Walks nearby
Contact
Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough information
Regional DOC service centre.
Notes from people who have been
No notes yet. If you have been, say what you found.
Something missing or out of date?
Closed, moved, wrong facts, or something we have missed? Travellers keep the Road Guide up to date. Tell us what you found at contribute@parkup.nz and we will check it and add it.
Ask us to take this down
A person reads every request. We do not remove a place until we have checked it.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.
- DOC Huts · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
- 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).