Upper Travers Hut
Serviced hutNelson Lakes National Park, TasmanOpen
Current advisories
Damaged foot-bridge south of Cascade Track
10 September 2026
The small foot-bridge just south of Hukere Stream/Cascade Track is damaged. It is possible to cross the stream - however this may become uncrossable during periods of rain. Caution is required. Map of foot-bridge location (PDF, 41K). There is a plan for a new foot-bridge to be installed. This alert will be removed once work is completed. First published on 8 July 2026. Last reviewed on 11 September 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
- Sleeps
- 24 bunks
- Booking
- Can book
- Cost
- from $25
- 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 BS24
- Grid reference
- E1579212, N5347929
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. 42.02029° S, 172.74985° E
About this place
This is a serviced 24-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.
On the way here
Travers-Sabine Circuit · 4 - 7 days
John Tait Hut to Upper Travers Hut
Time: 3 hr
Continue beyond John Tait Hut to Cupola Creek chasm, from where the track climbs steeply, leaving the river in its gorge below. A sign marks a short side‑track to Travers Falls, a 20‑m cascade plunging into a deep bowl. Back on the main track, the gradient soon eases. Cross several screes, and eventually the Travers River via a short bridge. From here, the forest is noticeably stunted and the track, although steep again, offers occasional views of the looming mountains. Finally the track levels and emerges from the trees onto an extensive tussock‑covered flat, where Upper Travers Hut nestles at the base of the east face of Mount Travers.
Upper Travers Hut to West Sabine Hut
Time: 6–9 hr depending on conditions
Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle is an alpine pass requiring ice axes and crampons in winter and well into spring. Be prepared for sudden weather changes. The Sabine side of the saddle in particular is exposed to avalanches. At Upper Travers Hut, the track becomes a route marked with snow poles as far as the bushline on the Sabine side. Cross the Travers River near the hut and follow the poles through dense alpine shrubs. Leaving the boulder‑strewn valley, the track steepens and zigzags up a scree slope before continuing more gently to the saddle with its panoramic views. The saddle is 450 m above the hut, about 1 hr 30 min walking. From the saddle, the descent is steep – the Sabine forks lie 1000 m below. The track crosses tussock and scree, then briefly enters stunted beech forest before emerging into a steep gully. Descend by zigzagging to the valley floor, where the track begins again and the walking becomes easier. Ten minutes further on, a bridge crosses the deep chasm of the East Branch Sabine River. The track sidles around the edge of this chasm before descending into the West Branch Sabine River valley and heading upstream a short distance to West Sabine Hut.
St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route · 8-9 days
John Tait Hut to Upper Travers Hut
Time: 3 hr
Continue beyond John Tait Hut to Cupola Creek chasm, from where the track climbs steeply, leaving the river in its gorge below. A sign marks a short side track to Travers Falls, a 20 m cascade plunging into a deep bowl. Back on the main track, the gradient soon eases. Cross several screes, and eventually the Travers River via a short bridge. From here, the forest is noticeably stunted and the track, although steep again, offers occasional views of the looming mountains. Finally the track levels and emerges from the trees onto an extensive tussock covered flat, where Upper Travers Hut nestles at the base of the east face of Mount Travers.
Upper Travers Hut to West Sabine Hut
Time: 6–9 hr depending on conditions
Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle is an alpine pass requiring ice axes and crampons in winter and well into spring. Be prepared for sudden weather changes. The Sabine side of the saddle in particular is exposed to avalanches. At Upper Travers Hut, the track becomes a route marked with snow poles as far as the bushline on the Sabine side. Cross the Travers River near the hut and follow the poles through dense alpine shrubs. Leaving the boulder strewn valley, the track steepens and zigzags up a scree slope before continuing more gently to the saddle with its panoramic views. The saddle is 450 m above the hut, about 1 hr 30 min walking. From the saddle, the descent is steep – the Sabine forks lie 1000 m below. The track crosses tussock and scree, then briefly enters stunted beech forest before emerging into a steep gully. Descend by zigzagging to the valley floor, where the track begins again and the walking becomes easier. Ten minutes further on, a bridge crosses the deep chasm of the East Branch Sabine River. The track sidles around the edge of this chasm before descending into the West Branch Sabine River valley and heading upstream a short distance to West Sabine Hut. Watch a Mountain Safety Council video guide to the route over Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle:
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Know before you go
Keep alpine lakes and tarns free of lindavia (lake snow)
The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water. Make sure all your gear is completely dry for 48 hours before swimming or taking water from any alpine lake or tarn, including Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus. U se a biosecurity cleaning station at Coldwater Hut, Lakehead Hut and Sabine Hut to disinfect any boots, socks, clothing, towels or drink bottles that are wet or damp from lake or river water. Do not touch the water in Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance. Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa. More ways to stop the spread
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 · 2 to 6 nights
St Arnaud
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Tracks used: St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route → Travers-Sabine Circuit
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai track descriptions.
Fees and bookings
1 May - 30 September
1 October - 30 April
Weekdays
Weekends
1 December - 29 February
Weekdays
Weekends
Backcountry Hut Passes Passes are valid for use in this hut from 1 May to 30 September. Passes Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass or Campsite Pass. About hut tickets and passes About campsite passes Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes Te Araroa – The Trail Pass Te Araroa Trail Pass
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027. If no availability shows online for your dates, the hut 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 Upper Travers Hut online
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
John Tait Hut
Serviced • 25 bunks • Tasman • 5.3 km
John Tait Hut is a serviced 25-bunk hut located in the Nelson Lakes area.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Blue Lake Hut
Serviced • 16 bunks • Tasman • 8.8 km
Blue Lake Hut is a serviced 16-bunk hut located in the Nelson Lakes area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Sabine Hut
Serviced • 32 bunks • Tasman • 14.4 km
Sabine Hut is a serviced 32-bunk hut located in the Nelson Lakes area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Coldwater Hut
Standard • 12 bunks • Tasman • 17.6 km
Coldwater Hut is a Department of Conservation hut in the Tasman region that offers a suitable overnight tramp for families with children and those new to…
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Cupola Hut
Standard • 8 bunks • Tasman • 5.6 km
Cupola Hut is a standard 8-bunk hut located in the Nelson Lakes 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
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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).