Wills Hut
Standard hutMakarora area, West CoastOpen
Current advisories
Wills Valley Track closed
29 June 2026
Wills Valley Track is closed until October 2026 while a slip downstream of the Gates of Haast Bridge is being fixed. There is heavy machinery movement at the bridge, and the parking bay at the Gates of Haast is closed, with traffic management in place. During this time, access to and from Wills Valley via the Gates of Haast bridge (on State Highway 6) will be closed. First published on 29 October 2025. Last reviewed on 30 June 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
- Sleeps
- 4 bunks
- Booking
- Not bookable
- Cost
- from $15
- Heating
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Not drinkable
- 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 BZ13
- Grid reference
- E1316706, N5117848
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. 44.03922° S, 169.45865° E
About this place
This is a standard four-bunk hut in the South Westland area.
On the way here
Wills Valley Track · 5 - 6 hr
The track continues climbing steadily through the forest, before dropping down to a large, grassy river flat on the true right of the river where the marked track ends. The four-bunk Wills Hut is about 40 min from the start of this flat on the true left of the river on a small terrace close to the bush edge.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Know before you go
No visitor centre in Makarora
Contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centres instead.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
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
This hut operates on a first come, first served basis and cannot be booked. Backcountry hut tickets are required to pay for your stay but do not guarantee a bunk - consider carrying a sleeping mat in the event that no bunks are available. Backcountry hut tickets can be purchased from a DOC visitor centre.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Brewster Hut
Serviced Alpine • 12 bunks • West Coast • 6.6 km
Brewster Hut is a serviced alpine 12 bunk hut located in the South Westland area. You need to book online before you go to stay at this hut over the summer…
Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Pleasant Flat Campsite
Standard • West Coast • 6.9 km
Pleasant Flat is a standard campsite in the Wanaka and Makarora area. It offers views of Mount Hooker and is located near the Haast River for fishing and short…
Non-powered/tent sites • Shelter for cooking • Toilets - flush
Makarora Hut
Standard • 4 bunks • Otago • 10.1 km
Makarora Hut is a standard four-bunk hut located in the Wanaka/Makarora area of Otago.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Ferguson Hut
Standard • 4 bunks • Otago • 11.6 km
Ferguson Hut is a standard four-bunk hut located in the Wanaka/Makarora area of Otago.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Forbes Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Otago • 12.9 km
Forbes Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the Wanaka/Makarora area of Otago.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Walks nearby
Contact
Wānaka Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park
Regional DOC service centre.
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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.
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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).