What’s more fun than backpacking through beautiful forests or along breath-taking coastlines and having a small cabin or hut to stay in when you’ve reached your destination at the end of the day. New Zealand has over 950 backcountry huts for backpackers to stay in scattered throughout the country. They are usually located about a day’s hike from trailheads and interspersed along longer trails. Managed by the DOC (Department of Conservation), they vary in size and amenities. Reservations are generally required and the fee is usually $5/night.
Some huts particularly on the more-popular, famous tracks are large well-constructed buildings that sleep dozens of people with a ranger on duty. The larger huts often have water, toilets and bunk beds with foam pads for sleeping (bring your own sleeping bag). There is a communal kitchen sometimes with gas burners for cooking where you can meet other trampers (hikers) which is half the fun.
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