Venison Tops Hut (Tira Lodge)
Venison Tops Hut (Tira Lodge) is a Department of Conservation backcountry hut in Kaweka Forest Park, in the Hawke’s Bay region. Built in 1969, it sits on the open alpine tops area locally known as Venison Tops, at an altitude of 1430 m. The hut offers 12 bunks (mattresses) in two rooms, plus a wood/coal stove for cooking, a meat safe, rainwater supply from a tank, and a long-drop style pit latrine; a dog kennel is also provided under special conditions.
Use is first come, first served—no standard bookings are required. You need a Standard Hut Ticket for each night (put it in the honesty box at the hut), or a Backcountry Hut Pass for unlimited use at most standard and serviced huts for a 12-month period. Fees are $10 per night for adults (18+), $5 per night for youth (5–17), and free for children/infants (0–4); helicopter landings use a helipad 40 m from the hut.
The hut is reached from multiple eastern access points in the Kawekas: via Makahu Road through Makino Hut and Mangaturutu Hut (about 9 hr + 3 hr + 4 hr + 2 hr), via Makahu Road through Middle Hill Hut (about 10 hr total), or via Kaweka Road up to Makahu Saddle carpark then onward over the range (up to about 9 hr). From the hut, formed tracks head to Ballard Hut (about 2 hr), Mangaturutu Hut (about 2 hr), and Rocks Ahead Hut (about 2.5 hr).