Red Hills Hut

Standard hutMount Richmond Forest Park, MarlboroughOpen

Sleeps
6 bunks
Booking
Can book
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

Porters Creek Hut: 4 hr

Topo map
Topo50 sheet BS26
Grid reference
E1599294, N5380075

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Map and tracks

Loading map
Tracks on this map:

Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 41.73116° S, 172.99157° E

Red Hills Hut, hut in Marlborough
Photo and data: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai.

About this place

This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.

On the way here

Red Hills Route · 3 days one way

Porters Creek Hut to Red Hills Hut

Time: 5 hr

km The track drops from Porters Creek Hut into Lowther Creek, then climbs up to a low saddle. After that, it sidles down to the right branch of the Motueka River and crosses it (unbridged). The track then sidles and climbs to the Red Hills Hut.

Red Hills Hut to SH63

Time: 3 hr

km From Red Hills Hut, follow the 4wd road for 5.5 km down to the grassy flats at the bottom. Don’t go over the locked gate as this is private land. Follow the orange triangle markers southwest for another 1.5 km to the Six Mile car park. From the highway, there are signs saying 'Access to Red Hills Route'.

Continue on Te Araroa Trail

From Red Hills Hut you can continue along Maitland Ridge Mountain bike Track. This takes you towards Beebys Knob Road. The track descends off the ridge on Te Araroa Trail to meet Tophouse Road near the Lowther Road turnoff. The trails around Red Hills and Beebys are shared-use tracks, with trampers and mountain bikers. More about Beeby's Knob tracks

The whole walk
Richmond Ranges Te Araroa route · 8 days

Porters Creek Hut to Red Hills Hut

Time: 5 hr

km The track drops from Porters Creek Hut into Lowther Creek, then climbs up to a low saddle. After that, it sidles down to the right branch of the Motueka River and crosses it (unbridged). The track then sidles and climbs to the Red Hills Hut. Crossing the Motueka River should not be attempted during periods of heavy rain as the river can rise quickly. If you are not confident that you can cross safely, wait in one of the huts or in your tent/emergency shelter until river levels drop. Red Hills Hut

Red Hills Hut to Tophouse Road

Time: 4 hr 30 min

11.6 km From Red Hills Hut, the Te Araroa Track continues to climb Maitland Ridge for 7.9km to Beebys Knob Road. Then the Beebys Knob Road descends for 3.7km to meet Tophouse Road near the Lowther Road turnoff. The trails around Red Hills and Beebys are shared-use tracks, with trampers and mountain bikers

The whole walk

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 9 nights

Tophouse Road

3 nightsRichmond Ranges Te Araroa route from Tophouse Road to Mid Wairoa Hut

Tracks used: Red Hills Route → Richmond Ranges Te Araroa route

Walking in

4 hr 30 min

Walking out

18 hr 30 min to Mid Wairoa Hut (via Top Wairoa Hut, Hunters Hut, Porters Creek Hut)

Mid Wairoa Hut

3 nightsRed Hills Route from Mid Wairoa Hut to SH63

Walking in

18 hr 30 min (via Top Wairoa Hut, Hunters Hut, Porters Creek Hut)

Walking out

3 hr to SH63

3 nightsRed Hills Route from Mid Wairoa Hut to Tophouse Road

Tracks used: Red Hills Route → Richmond Ranges Te Araroa route

Walking in

18 hr 30 min (via Top Wairoa Hut, Hunters Hut, Porters Creek Hut)

Walking out

4 hr 30 min to Tophouse Road

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai track descriptions.

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

Book Red Hills Hut online

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

On these tracks

Red Hills RouteAdvanced • 40 km • 3 days one way
Richmond Ranges Te Araroa routeAdvanced • 8 days

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Contact

Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre

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).
  • 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.