ScottC: Hawdon Hut

A nice relaxing weekend tramp in to Hawdon Hut with Darrin and Gill, in sometimes grotty weather conditions. However a cosy hut and good company more than made up for it.

The lower section of the Hawdon Valley is pretty wide and there is a fair amount of gravel bashing involved. The Hawdon itself has to be forded at least three times on this route and although the fords are good, this could potentially be problematic.

From the Hawdon Shelter a short section of track heads through the bush before dropping down to the valley floor. The Sudden Valley Stream, a good trip in it's own right is soon passed. DOC trappers were working this section on quad bikes the weekend we were there.

Side Creek - Hawdon Valley.

Hawdon Valley above the East Hawdon confluence.

The bush by the East Hawdon Stream confluence provided a nice opportunity to have a sheltered break out of persistent light rain. Above the confluence the valley becomes much more confined and also much prettier. There are numerous opportunities for camping on the river flats or in the open beech forest. The site of the old hut, which burnt down in June 2005 is passed about 20 minutes before the new hut.

Bush track on the way to Hawdon Hut.

We arrived at the hut after about three hours. We were the first there, the somewhat so-so forecast maybe putting people off. We eventually ended up 10 people at the hut, a testament to it's popularity so early in the season.

The modern and comfortable Hawdon Hut.

Lazy afternoon at Hawdon Hut.

Over dinner Darrin and Gill told us the fantastic news that they had gotten engaged last weekend (whilst camping at Tarn Hut in the Puketeraki Range). They had brought drinks and deserts to celebrate with us, and so a lazy and comfortable afternoon and evening passed, well protected from the somewhat inclement conditions outside.

Celebrating Darrin and Gill's engagement.

The Rifleman - NZ's smallest bird outside of the hut.

Hawdon Hut - Sunday morning.

There was a brief talk about visiting the Walker Pass the next morning, - but it seemed like a lot of effort so we simply retraced our route out of the Hawdon Valley in much better weather conditions. An obligatory stop at the Sheffield Pie Shop completed an excellent weekend.