Gold Creek Hut

Gold Creek Hut is a basic four-bunk backcountry hut in Ruahine Forest Park (Hawke’s Bay / Manawatū-Whanganui region). It’s a Forestry Service hut originally built in 1958, later modified to a four-bunk S-81 model with spring bunks and standard mattresses, and heated by a corker cooker. A creek beside the hut provides fresh water, and there’s a long-drop toilet near the hut clearing.

Use is free and no booking is required; it’s first-come, first-served. The hut is maintained by the community, with John Beech managing it under a volunteer agreement. Gold Creek is on the true left bank of Gold Creek at about 710 m, and the hut can be reached from the Wakarara Roadend via the Gold Creek Ridge Track route—about a 3–4 hour one-way tramping approach from the road end with an advanced track rating on the DOC route description. From the road end you’ll need to deal with the Makaroro River crossing (wet feet are expected, and a safer time to cross is when water levels are normal).