Black Spur Slab Hut

Black Spur Slab Hut is a historic shepherds’ hut in the Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park area (Clarence Reserve, NZ), built around 1928 and later substantially repaired in the 1970s–80s. The hut is a compact 6 m by 3 m poplar-slab structure on a poplar pole frame with a corrugated iron roof; the interior was updated with bunks reduced from ten to four and an earth floor replaced with concrete.

Expect very basic backcountry hut use: capacity is four bunks with no mattresses. Facilities include a non-flush toilet and a water supply from a stream, plus a wood heater. DOC Backcountry Hut Tickets are used for staying here, and use operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance booking required. Standard Hut Ticket pricing is $5 NZD per adult per night, and tickets must be bought beforehand from a DOC Visitor Centre.

Access to the Clarence area is via Blind Saddle Road, ending at a locked gate at the Kahutara River bridge; vehicle access is arranged in advance through Muzzle Station, and a road maintenance fee applies for motorised vehicles. The road is often closed to motorised vehicles during winter months, so plan your approach accordingly.