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Field Hut Frolic, Wellington

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Field Hut FrolicIntermediate

Submitted by Tony Sharpe

Info Info
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Trail Information

12.10km

790m

790m

 

Wellington

Otaki

Back country - remote

Out and Back

Very hilly

Native bush

Intermediate

4:00 (Slow)
3:00 (Moderate)
2:00 (Fast)

-15.2%

+15.2%

April 2021: current access is via a temporary alternative route - see here for details. Please email us with any updates that you become aware of.

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Description

Not keen for the whole Southern Crossing? Or looking for something shorter? Its well worth lacing up and tackling the track to Field Hut and back, in itself a wonderful bush trail destination with some fairly decent vert to boot. Field Hut was built in 1924 by the Tararua Tramping Club, named after its then President, who was also the MP for Otaki for a while

Open tops await just beyond Field Hut and you may wish to extend the run by heading up over Table Top to Kime Hut. Beyond here you can follow the whole Southern Crossing- itself a route guide on the Trail Directory in its own right.

From the Carpark cross the Waiotauru swingbridge and head up on the river terraces. From here the trail is well marked and well formed, and climbs steadily for an hour or two, depending on your pace until you pop out to the historic hut just near the bushline. The map attached shows the route just to the hut, but if you have the time its well worth popping a few hundred meters further up in order to see the views, in the unlikely event that Tararua weather is playing ball!

Remember if venturing beyond the hut to take good gear, it can quickly turn to brutal conditions. However the described route to the hut and back can be tackled in any weather


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Features of interest

Historic Field Hut
A taste of the Southern Crossing


Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 30%

Moderate Single Track: 60%

Easy Single Track: 10%


Route Data

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Overlapping Runs

The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each


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Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Otaki Forks camping area

    Take the Otaki Forks Road from the bridge at the main highway, its about 20km of windy mostly shingle road to the campground where you can park up and run to your hearts content.

    18 km

    24 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    Well marked to the hut, you shouldn't lose this trail. But do take a map.

    Very patchy.

    Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map.

    BYO but the hut has a water supply to top up with

    Snow on tops in winter

    If going beyond the described route not the Tararua's can be very stormy.

  • Post run indulgence

    Otaki has plenty of options as the nearest town

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