An excellent first tramping mission in a stunning part of Southland.
Location: Near Mossburn, take Dunrobin Valley Road until you reach private property and a DoC sign for the Aparima River track. There is a spot to park in a road-side quarry, on your left, about 50m before the DoC sign.
Access: From car-park to hut, 6km. As of June 2023, the first kilometer or so is 5′ tall “jungle grass” (according to the kids), which feels overgrown, spiky & scratchy, with un-even terrain underfoot. Our 5-year-old was fine, but Ms 3-year-old struggled and had to be carried quite a bit. A day on the end of a scrub-bar weed trimmer would do the trick… Beyond that, It’s a lovely mix of bush next to the river (a few side streams to splash through/jump over), tussocks bog, and little bit of 4WD track. There’s one notable spot, just at the southern end of the main oxbow in the river, where the track runs along a great gravel river flat. This would be good camping, and an easy spot for waterbottle filling and lunching. Otherwise, there aren’t heaps of super easy places to get down to the water. Plus a swing bridge close to the hut. The track itself is a classic sort of Kiwi tramping track – in that it can be a bit rough, tree roots, mud etc. So a lot of it would probably hard work for a wee one who isn’t strong on their feet. Ideal if they’re still in a backpack, or are capable walkers. The variety keeps it interesting for them 
Where you exit the beech forest and the track heads distinctly northwest, there’s another stretch of “jungle grass” of manuka and tussock, which trampers younger than 5 will probably find tricky. It took us about 3hrs including little breaks (plus a lunch stop).
Hut: Well, huts actually. The main one is an 8 bunk (two sleeping platform) hut in reasonable condition. DoC website says 12 bunks which I assume takes into account the other hut. Much older with ‘more character’ but fine to sleep in, especially for those without kids 
There’s a small pot-belly stove in the corner, with a very small opening for feeding in fuel: the hut has an old saw, but a nice sharp folding saw from home can come in really handy for sizing down the bigger bits of wood! There’s also a very large dog kennel/wood box which I’m sure someone could kip in if they were desperate!
In colder weather, be aware that the hut is in quite a shady position, isn’t that well insulated, and has a few drafts/gaps. The fire makes it warm enough whilst its going, but it gets cold very quickly after the flame ends…
NB: This track is part of Te Araroa which means that you should expect others to be there. We somehow struck it lucky – helps to go out of TA season. There’s plenty of huts and space to camp, but good to be prepared. You could pitch your tents on the grass outside the hut, but its a little lumpy. Just to the north of the toilet, is a lovely clearing in the beech forest, which would be good to camp. Just watch for the steepish edge down to the river! Also, we had very little issue with sandflies which was surprising. Good timing all around it seems but I’d expect them to be pretty bad there typically.
Visited by Wakelin and Clark families – October 2019.
Updates by Clearwater family June 2023
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