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About the Deerstalkers Mid Greenstone Hut

The Mid Greenstone Hut was previously a DOC hut but in 2004 a bigger DOC hut was built on the site of the old Sly Burn Hut and this 'newer' DOC hut is confusingly called the Greenstone hut.  It is about 1 hour to this hut from the Deerstalkers hut.

This Deerstalkers hut was the first one for the local branch when in 2004 the hut was offered to the Deerstalkers. We invested in a trap line from our hut up to Steele Creek and have managed and maintained the trap line and the hut ever since.

In 2014 the track on the upper Caples side was made wider and easier over the saddle to make the walk more accessible and quicker to and from the McKellar Hut meaning the Caples/ Greenstone loop can now be done in 3 nights.

The hut was built circ.1980 but in October 2023, the NZDA members invested in double glazing and some improvements to the hut.

The Mid Greenstone hut sleeps 12 people in 2 separate rooms with bunk beds and is around a 4-5 hour walk from the car park at the Glenorchy end.

There is an old wardens quarters attached to the building that is only available for club members as they  stay there when checking the trap line. 

Facilities in the Mid Greenstone Hut

  • Doc style bunks for 12 people (6 in each room)
  • Mattresses.
  • Kitchen bench, sink, table with stool type benches.
  • Wood/coal burner
  • 4 ring gas cooker 
  • Drop toilet (away from the building behind the wood store).
  • Drinking water via tap inside hut (comes from a stream well up behind the hut) 
  • LED solar powered lighting to reduce the fire risk.
  • USB charging point - bring your own cable
  • Axe and saw.
  • Plates, cups, glasses, knives and forks and cooking utensils.
  • Frying pans, plenty of cooking pots, large sized stock pot, medium and small saucepans, a skillet for meat, a cast iron ‘dutch oven’ and a “yoyo” yogurt maker
  • Meat safe (for hunters)
  • Pantry (with emergency food often left behind)
  • Shower - gravity fed (heat the water on the fire) 
  • Wood shed - usually with wood in it

Internet 

The Mid Greenstone Hut is equipped with WiFi, provided to support important conservation efforts in the valley.

The connection powers our AI-driven trap line, ensuring native species like the kea are protected by accurately identifying pest animals. While staying at the hut, you can also access the WiFi for personal use.

Please note that WiFi access requires payment by Paypal or credit / debit card. 

By booking and staying with us, you’re contributing to the Southern Lakes NZDA’s mission to preserve New Zealand’s unique natural heritage. Thank you for supporting this vital work!


Cost to stay in the huts

  • FREE if you are a local and active member of the Southern Lakes Branch

  • $10 per person per night for National NZDA members

  • $25 per person per night for non members ($30 from 1 Jan 2025)

PLUS a $50 refundable key deposit.

(Your fees are much appreciated as the money goes into hut maintenance and general supplies for the hut.)

Booking the Huts

1. Check availability on the online calendar. (See below)
Unless pre-arranged, do not presume exclusive use of the hut.

2. Complete the online booking form. You will need to complete this twice if staying at both huts.

3. You will receive an automatic confirmation in an email - please check your spam folder.
It also sends an email to us and we will update the calendar manually. (It may take a day or so for your booking to appear)
Your email includes instructions on where to collect and pay for the keys.

4. Once booked, it is a good idea to download any maps and directions to the hut if you are unfamiliar with the area as there is no cell coverage in the valley.

Once you are Booked

If you are hunting or fishing, it is your responsibility to obtain the correct permits.

We also recommend you check the weather and the track conditions. The Department of Conservation website or local office in Queenstown or Te Anau are the best for track updates as they maintain and monitor these.

NB. In very heavy rain there are 3 fords to cross in a vehicle to the car park and in really severe weather the road near Kinloch can get washed out.


Key Collection 

Security keys are kept at a sports shop in central Queenstown “Small Planet in Shotover Street“.

They are open every day: 7 days a week 9am – 6pm*, and stock a great selection of outdoor gear and dried food if you have forgotten anything. 

The team at Small Planet kindly hold the keys and take payment on behalf of the club. You only need to pay when you collect the keys. PLEASE pay in exact cash as there are no EFTPOS or credit card facilities. Ideally bring the $50 key deposit in exact cash too as it is just held in an envelope until you return the key.

You only need to pay for the nights you stay at the hut however we realize you may need to collect keys in advance while staying in another hut along the way. We have a number of keys cut for this reason.

Let us know in the comments when booking if you need to collect them more than a week out so we can keep track of the keys or you can email it to info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz 

We can arrange to have keys in Te Anau if you are not coming through Queenstown at all but would need to know a week in advance. 

(*The main exception to these opening hours is 25th Dec (Christmas Day) and 25th April (Anzac day) when it is best to check by phoning them in advance Ph +64 (03) 442 6393 )


Time Lapse Video from the hut - credit Nick Haprov

Click to view


Finding the Mid Greenstone Hut 

The Mid Greenstone NZDA Hut is tucked away beside bush line not far from the Ultimate Hikes Guided Walks Lodge.
There are NO SIGNPOSTS to the hut so it is a good idea to print off the directions and or maps, especially if you are arriving after dark

Directions from Steele Creek or McKellar Hut

After literally a few metres from crossing the swing bridge at Steele Creek, there is an old track that goes uphill on the left. Take this track. It is not signposted but follows a stoat trap line.  A little way along this track, the orange track markers on the trees will appear (as it is the old Greenstone Track) and after around 15 minutes will take you all the way to the hut. There are also some old white/red permolat markers on trees. These are especially helpful where slips have washed over the track.

Directions from the Glenorchy side
After about an hour after the DOC Greenstone Hut, you get to the open flats and there is a DOC sign on the right of the path saying something about “cattle and not to disturb them.” Continue along these flats – the wind blows quite hard here in the afternoons, the river is on your left. After crossing the rock slip (it’s quite a recent one with few plants growing on it and it’s right next to the river) continue for about another 10-15 mins and you get to a small boggy area with stepping stones through it, count 2 orange poles and the main path very slightly climbs up to a hump (about the height of a room) and heads nearer the bushline than it has for a while. There is another orange marker pole – this one has additional electrical tape round the orange part of it. TURN RIGHT HERE

Head up the gully to the right from this pole, cross the dried up stream. There is no obvious path at this point. Just head towards the trees and then you should see the uphill path and/or markers on the trees. The path is marked with the odd tin can lid on a tree and orange markers on the trees, climbing up quite steep at first with a tiny switch back. Keep on the edge of the tree line and follow a track to get to the hut. The last bit is all uphill but it should only take 20 mins from where you turned off the main track at the orange pole.

If you do miss the orange marker and the gully to walk up, the main track heads nearer the river, so look back and to the right and you can see the hut up the hill on the edge of the trees. Failing that, if you get to the Ultimate Hikes Guided Walks lodge, you are in Steele Creek and gone too far. See directions above to take from Steele Creek to the hut.



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