One of the raddest things about New Zealand is the Backcountry DOC Huts. These wild little tiny houses mean you can easily head away in to the mountains for a weekend tramp (hike) and stay out in the forest. I am going to be writing a Backcountry DOC Huts Series about the huts I visit and thought it would be a good idea to write an introductory post about them; to give a little context and background for anyone who hasn’t heard about the huts before.
What are Backcountry DOC huts?
As far as I know, New Zealand is unique in the world for its DOC huts; accommodation huts run by the department of conservation (DOC). They are scattered throughout the public land and mountains and available for the public to stay in with an honesty system (between $5 and $15). There are 950 in New Zealand in total. They are more basic than backpacker hostels, but more luxury than a shed or a tent! You need to take your own sleeping bag and cooking equipment, but you have a roof over your head, a bunk with mattress, a water source and toilet facilities, everything you need for a night in the wild. If you like luxury you probably wont like it, but if you like adventure, you definitely will!
How to stay in a Backcountry hut
To get your permission to stay in a hut you need to buy the appropriately priced ticket from one of the DOC offices. Wellington’s office is in town on Manners Street. When you get to the hut, you just slip the ticket into the box inside to prove payment. You cant yet buy hut tickets online but hopefully doc will provide this service soon.
Many of these huts are like amazing time pieces built as far back as 1924 (check out Field Hut in the Tararuas). Some are more luxury and well maintained and some are more rustic and simple. You pay accordingly, Serviced Huts are $15 per night and Standard Huts are $5 per night. There are also year long passes you can get so you can stay in as many huts as you want all year. Some of the Huts on the New Zealand Great Walks need to be booked but most of the time you just show up. Its awesome!
What is so great about the DOC Backcountry huts?
Having these huts for use in the mountains allows you to tackle landscapes and adventures that wouldn’t be possible for most people (like me) without them. It allows you to spend two days out hiking without having to dash back to the car before dark and they also allow for tramps in conditions that wouldn’t allow for a tent. They are a safety from the mental New Zealand weather and sometimes a social hub with other trampers staying there too.
I myself am pretty new to the hut thing. I have only been to a few within 2 hours of Wellington, so I am still discovering but I think they are worth sharing and I want to show that anyone, with the right gear, can get to these amazing places.
So there you go, a little background information about the DOC Backcountry huts. You can find all the information about every hut and how to get there on the DOC Website HERE.
Stay tuned for my DOC Back Country Huts Series…! Its gonna be great.
Thanks for reading!
Peace,
Josie x