Papatahi Hut
Serviced hutCatchpool Valley & Ōrongorongo Valley, WellingtonOpen
Current advisories
Ungulate control for parts of Remutaka Forest Park
03 August 2026
Ungulate (goats, deer, pigs) control work will take place from 10 August 2026 to 30 June 2027. The operation will include both aerial shooting and ground hunting with indicator dogs, thermal drone assistance as well as aerial surveillance and trail cameras for monitoring. The operation area is shown on the map in the solid pink and solid yellow buffer zones. Remutaka ungulate operation area map (PDF, 140K) First published on 22 January 2026. Last reviewed on 4 August 2026.
Ōrongorongo Track reroute
11 June 2026
A section of the Ōrongorongo Track at Jacob’s Ladder has been rerouted due to the risk of an imminent collapse. The slip cannot be seen from the track. The reroute is well signposted. Turn back if you find yourself on a section of rough, uneven track with deep cracks. The rerouted track is a temporary tramping track with some large, unformed steps. Jacob’s Ladder is the area where the track descends steeply down to the Ōrongorongo River Valley. This is about five minutes before the curved bridge when travelling from the Catchpool car park end. This is a long term alert. First published on 20 March 2023. Last reviewed on 12 June 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
- Sleeps
- 10 bunks
- Booking
- Can book
- Cost
- Fee applies
- 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.nzPapatahi Hut is a 3 hr 30 min walk from the Catchpool car park via the Ōrongorongo and Big Bend Tracks.
Warning: Accessing the hut requires several river crossings and should not be attempted when the river is in flood or there is sustained rainfall forecast. The Ōrongorongo River is prone to flash flooding.
Papatahi Hut is located on the true right of the Ōrongorongo River, 5 km upstream from Turere Arch Bridge.
From the end of the Ōrongorongo Track follow the marked Big Bend Track for approximately 1 hour to its junction with the Whakanui Track. At this point you enter the riverbed and follow the Ōrongorongo River upstream.
The route contains approximately four crossings of the Ōrongorongo River but this can vary as the river is constantly rerouting in floods. As you move up the riverbed note the Matthews Stream fan and Mount Matthews Track on the true left, and a large slip face on the true left.
Look for the large orange triangle and DOC sign on the true right of the river, near the entrance to an old 4WD track (1769113.65, 5423258.07).
Climb the stairs and follow the marked track to the hut.
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BQ32
- Grid reference
- E1769108, N5423351
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. 41.32383° S, 175.01981° E
About this place
This is a serviced 10-bunk hut in the Wellington region. The hut is locked and must be booked in advance to gain access.
On the way here
Papatahi Crossing · 12 hr
Papatahi Hut
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Fees and bookings
1 October - 30 April
1 December - 29 February
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027. If no availability shows online for your dates, the lodge is fully booked. No spaces are kept for visitors arriving without a booking. Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee. Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain. Book Papatahi Hut online . The Ōrongorongo River is not safe to cross in all conditions. If the river is flooded, rising or there is rain forecast, do not attempt to cross. You will be eligible for a refund if you had to cancel your stay due to river safety. Contact Nelson visitor services: phone +64 3 546 9339 or email nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz .
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
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Boar Inn
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Walks nearby
Contact
Wellington/Kapiti information
Regional DOC service centre.
Notes from people who have been
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Sources
- 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.
- 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).