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.nzPorters Creek Hut: 4 hr
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BS26
- Grid reference
- E1599294, N5380075
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. 41.73116° S, 172.99157° E

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
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
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
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
Walking in
18 hr 30 min (via Top Wairoa Hut, Hunters Hut, Porters Creek Hut)
Walking out
3 hr to SH63
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
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
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Porters Creek Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Tasman • 8.6 km
Porters Creek Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Top Wairoa Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Tasman • 15 km
Top Wairoa Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Abrahams Bay Hunters Hut
Basic/bivvies • 6 bunks • Southland • 701.5 km
Abrahams Bay Hunters Hut is a basic six-bunk hut located in the Stewart Island/Rakiura area of Southland.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Hunters Hut
Standard • 8 bunks • Tasman • 14.7 km
Hunters Hut is a standard eight-bunk hut located in the Motueka area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Mid Wairoa Hut
Standard • 8 bunks • Tasman • 20.9 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 Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
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
- 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.
