Where is it? In the Tararua Forest Park, west of Eketahuna. The well sign-posted trail head is accessed from the carpark at the end of Putara Road.
The Tramp:
The track is approximately 4.5km, and the DoC estimate is 2 hours. It took me and my 4.5
year old four hours to reach the hut, including lots of snack and rest stops. The return trip
was also 4 hours.
The well worn track follows the Mangatainoka River up the valley. There are two river
crossings on this section but both are bridged. After the second bridge (quite an exciting
high swing bridge) the tracks heads straight up the hill. The gain is approximately 350m, and
this was definitely the most challenging part of the track for little legs. The climb is steep
and a bit rugged and rooty (a note here that coming back down was actually more tricky for
the little legs, and I had to lift him down a few bits). But with lots of rests, chocolate
almonds and encouragement we made it to the top of the ridge. There the track splits – left
to Roaring Stag Hut (3.5km) and right to Herepai Hut (1.5km). The track along the ridge to
Herepai was pretty flat and easy going with a short climb in the last 100m to the hut.
The Hut:
Herepai is a standard 10 bunk hut. The hut has been renovated recently and is in great
condition. It has a log burner and a roof-fed tank (which we drank without boiling and were
fine).
Good to know:
It’s a first in first served hut, and it was full when we were there on a Saturday night with
hunters and weekend adventurers. A couple had to pitch a tent outside.
There is a track beyond the hut which goes to the top of Herepai. Those we spoke to in the
hut who had done it advised it was more like an hour (adult) than the DoC estimate of half
an hour, and the track was very very steep, so we didn’t attempt it.
Visited by:
Emily and Marlow (4.5), April 2024
trampingforlittlepeople 