Makino Hut
Makino Hut is a backcountry hut in Kaweka Forest Park (Hawke’s Bay), operated by the Department of Conservation. It’s set in a flat, sheltered spot where manuka/kanuka meet red beech forest, built in 1959 and upgraded in 1993. The hut is heated by a wood-burning stove and has rainwater supplied from a tank attached to the hut; there’s also a meat safe and a dog kennel with special conditions.
Use is first come, first served with no standard bookings required. It has 6 bunk beds. Fees apply: adult (18+) $10 per night, youth (5–17) $5 per night, and children/infants (0–4) are free, with hut tickets required in the honesty box before staying (Standard Hut Ticket: blue for adults, yellow for youth). A long-drop pit latrine is provided, and there’s an honesty-box rule to replace any firewood used; a wood fire is supported by the fireplace/wood heating setup.