Mt Heale Hut
Mt Heale Hut is a serviced 20-bunk backcountry hut on Great Barrier Island (Aotea), run by the Department of Conservation. It has 20 beds in two rooms and two toilets (pit latrine). The hut provides gas cooking facilities and a water supply from stored roof water that must be boiled before use; there’s also mattress bedding and two deck areas.
To get there, allow a 3 hr–3 hr 30 min walk via Windy Canyon and Palmer's Track, accessed from Aotea Road at the top of Whangapoua Hill. Stays require advance booking online (no spaces held for walk-ins). Fees are charged: adult (18+) $25 per night, youth (5–17) $12.50 per night, and child/infant (0–4) free (fees through 30 June 2026); hut tickets can’t be used, but Backcountry Hut Passes are valid for this hut.