Inland Track huts, Abel Tasman National Park

Up in the hills of Abel Tasman National Park the accommodation situation changes. Instead of the hordes down around the coast, paying $32 a night for a hut, or even $14 for a standard campsite, twice as much for non-residents, you pay $5 for a mattress, or camp outside for a big zero. That’s some incentive.

The huts themselves are entirely variable, from the newish and totally cosy Holyoake Clearing Shelter, the splendidly refurbished Castle Rocks Hut, the completely unreconditioned Awapoto Hut and the barren-ish Moa Park Shelter.

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Awapoto Hut | Inland Track, Abel Tasman National Park

Best feature: maybe the straggly collection of mountain cabbage trees immediately outside, gotta adore them.

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Castle Rock Hut | Inland Track, Abel Tasman National Park

Castle Rock Hut was a standard issue NZFS six bunker before being fully refurbished in recent years

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Holyoake Clearing Shelter | Inland Track, Abel Tasman National Park

If this is what a DOC shelter means, I am staying in shelters.

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Moa Park Shelter | Inland Track, Abel Tasman National Park

One of the few remnants from the early days of the park, now just a shell, the bunks and mattresses, and, of course, the open fire, have been removed.

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Wainui Hut | Abel Tasman National Park

Wainui Hut is an old New Zealand Forest Service hut with an open fireplace, etc, just like in the olden days.