Middy Hut

Middy Hut is located on the Pelorus Track (which doubles as the Te Araroa Trail), midway between Captain Creek Hut, Rocks Hut and Roebuck Hut. The nearest road end, Maungatapu Rd, is located further down the Pelorus Valley downstream of Captain Creek Hut. For most hut visitors, this will be the start point.

To access Maungatapu Rd, turn right on SH6, immediately before crossing the Pelorus River bridge from the Nelson side. Follow Maungatapu Rd (unsealed) for 14 km to the road end, where there is a parking area and sign displaying a map and track information.

The other road ends at Maitai Dam and Aniseed Valley (Hacket Track) are 16.9 km and 21.9 km away respectively. Most visitors to Middy Hut are travelling between Captain Creek and Rocks Hut (Te Araroa Trail walkers) or Captain Creek Hut and Roebuck Hut. Less commonly, Middy Hut is accessed by trampers heading to or from Mt Fell, via either Mt Richmond or Timms Creek Route.

Pelorus Track heads along the true left of the Pelorus River, which flows with beautiful clarity and an emerald hue. The track is tramping grade, and though it is mostly easy-going, there are places where you will have to clamber over tree roots and rocks. After 1 km a swing bridge crosses a side stream, Scott Creek, and after a further kilometre you will cross the boundary into Mount Richmond Forest Park.

Beyond Emerald Pool, the track climbs higher above the river, sidling the valley side through forest that is a mix of beech, rimu, matai, Hall’s tōtara and miro. The track descends the valley side to follow alongside the river, then climbs again slightly before the turnoff to Captain Creek Hut.

From Captain Creek Hut the track continues along the true left of the river, crossing a side tributary, Captain Creek. Soon after a swing bridge crosses the Pelorus on a section where the river flows through a spectacular section of gorge. Now on the true right, the track sidles the hillside high above the river, crossing Fishtail Stream via a swing bridge and continuing on to Middy Hut.

Middy Hut is located in a grassy clearing on the eastern side (true right) of the river. The river is immediately accessible from the hut and features a great swimming hole. Clouds of sandflies mean insect repellent is a necessity. The hut is named after Middy Creek, which flows into the Pelorus River on the far bank, directly opposite the hut.

A swing bridge crosses Pelorus River 2 min from Middy Hut and the track climbs a spur between Pelorus River and Middy Creek. After 1 km you will reach a track junction, where you can either head left up the Pelorus Valley to Roebuck Hut, or head straight up the side of the valley to Rocks Hut (Te Araroa Trail).

The track between Middy Hut and Rocks Hut climbs the side of Bryant Range. The range is broad and gently sloping, so for the most part the track is able to take a direct route at a fairly gently uphill gradient. Towards the top of the range the topography is quite hummocky, with rocky outcrops and areas of stunted vegetation reflecting the influence of the underlying ultramafic rocks. The track reaches Rocks Hut at the top of the range.

From the track junction west of Middy Hut, Pelorus Track continues sidling the valley high above the true left of Pelorus River. The track is undulating as it dips in and out of gullies through which side tributaries to the Pelorus flow. The track passes through beech forest for the entire distance to Roebuck Hut; the latter is positioned in a clearing on the opposite side of the river at the confluence with Roebuck Creek, and is accessed via a swing bridge.