Solo Overnight Tramp to a Forgotten Hut - Puketutu Hut, Kaimai Ranges

Puketutu Hut isn't on the Topo maps anymore so I set off for an overnight tramp armed with knowledge from the internet!
I managed to locate the hut fairly easily and spent an awesome night tenting outside. An epic sunrise started my morning and I set off to cross the old North South Track (Video coming soon!)
If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions feel free to leave them down below.
My instagram: / backcountrykiwi
#hiking #solohiking #camping

[@tleej26]

Can’t beat rustic with a bonus comfy chair for really enjoying the stunning scenery. Really looking forward to seeing what happens in part 2.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks TJ. Glad you enjoyed it mate

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

I was meant to complete Te Hanga Ridgeline and the hut last weekend as part of my forgotten five series but we abandoned that section due to the weather. Well done finding it, no doubt following a track on the ridgeline was a challenge to the Kauritatahi hut.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Dave. Finding puketutu hut was easy, it was quite well marked but the track to Kauritatahi is not so. It was a fun challenge. Cheers.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

@@BackcountryKiwi The hut was packed when we got there. Exciting about the TA trail, safe travels to you both.

[@nzoomed]

Is there a GPS track of the old NS track available along the ridge? I've navigated part of it from puketutu end but couldn't find where it started at kauritatahi hut at all so we turned around.

[@johnnywinters7606]

Nice vid.... looking forward to part 2......✌️👍🇺🇸

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Cheers Johhny. It was a great trip

[@ewengillies9826]

Admire your courage to get out and about in little known places. Great scenery fabulous views and interesting huts. Hope you got out so we can view Part 2 ...lol. Thanks for sharing. Bushyboy Oz.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks mate. Part 2 will be up soon! Cheers

[@ReviloNZwalks]

Very cool man, I will have to get my butt up there soon

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks bro. It's a cool hut definitely worth a look. Cheers

[@wendingourway]

So very cool! That is so handy to find for a great camp! We'd be very comfortable there. Bruce and Otis

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks!

[@carrier6517]

Awesome video mate 👍 Love your beautiful N.Z. scenery 💫

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Carrie!

[@2000heathcliff]

What a beautiful view from the deck! Beautiful scenery as usual! Great trip I’m sure you found your way out but a bit stressful from my seat lol

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thank you! Yeah its a cool, not well known place. Cheers

[@herbsmith6871]

Cool spot! Can't wait for part 2🤠

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Herb!

[@jacksonfive197]

We have a beautiful country mate cheers yet again…

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Jackson. It sure is a beauty place. Cheers

[@joehiker8114]

That is so tidy compared to when I was there 12 years back. Great to see. Sad to see original logbook gone, had about 20 years of logs in it. Always feel a bit guilty about that great view from deck...... nuff said. Another great vid, thanks.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Joe. I was pleasantly surprised at how tidy the hut was. That old logbook would have been really cool to look through. The view was awesome. Cheers mate

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Great spot Zeb. Awesome view bro.😊👍cool hut.😁👊has everything you need. Nice its off the beaten track. Fantastic.what are you using for a drop sheet bro? Bush lawyer Suxs.😪😪😪 as long as you have a compass you will be sweet bro. Looking forward to part 2 bro. I hope you find some white punk.😁👍🤙👏

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Bush lawyer sure is a pain haha. Yeah it's definitely a cool hut. The ground cloth is a sheet of polycro that I got from pack gear go. Unfortunately no white punk fungus, hardly any beech trees in this area 😕 Thanks mate. Cheers

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

@@BackcountryKiwi all good mate. If you get low give me a text i will top your supplies up. Keep smashing out the cool videos bro.

[@omidveysi8999]

You're living my dreams, mate 😉 And I like your awesome contents.. ❤️

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks heaps 😊

[@northernembersoutdoors1045]

Awesome as usual Zeb, those cicada's day 1 awesome. My initial thought of that contraption is a log splitter but not 100% sure. Good to know the hut is still used from time to time otherwise it would just be a waste. Looking forward to part two, I'm away to make a lentil curry thing😂😂

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks heaps Chris. Yeah a log splitter seems to make the most sense. It's a great little Hut that isn't on the maps so it is still cool to see people visiting. Knowing you, your lentil curry thing will turn out better than mine! Cheers

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

That thing was a can opener for your tomatoes bro! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤘

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Haha cheers Jason 🙂

[@TerryChubb]

Awesome video, thank you. Note that only the very last 350m of the route you took to Puketutu hut is on the old N-S track. The rest of the route beforehand I think is about making access to the hut from the new N-S track. There is a route junction at that 350m mark and people returning from the hut have strayed off their intended route, accidentally staying on the old N-S route, which heads in the direction of point 576 and getting themselves in a mess.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks for the info! Good to know. Cheers for watching!

[@danih6820]

It’s an awesome time. Thanks Zeb.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks alot for watching Dani!

[@mountainmantararua8824]

glad to see you use the word 'tramp' good on yer mate. we used it as a can crusher (the thing under the bench)

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thank you!

[@AdamB9866]

Great video bro. Appreciate it

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks heaps adam

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Watching some of your older vids Zeb. Kaimai's are beautiful. I think the torture device is a can crusher for hikers to reduce the bulk they have to carry out. Have you read Gone Bush by Paul Kilgour? I just finished it. A good read

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Dave. A can crusher makes sense! I got the book for Christmas, it is a fantastic read I absolutely loved it. I keep on recommending it to everyone. Hope you are well. Cheers

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Mike reckons that thing is a log splitter, I reckon it’s some kinda torture device. Just as well you slept in your tent! Another great video.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Haha cheers guys. A log splitter, interesting. It sure was a funny thing to find under the bunk! Thanks

[@Upsidedownorangejuice]

Awesome video

[@BackcountryKiwi]

I appreciate it mate. Cheers

[@marcelosilva6955]

sinister this house

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks?

[@nzoomed]

I was up here and flashed my torch to a friend who was looking back at us in Tauranga, the scary thing was someone flashed their lights back at us and it wasnt our friend!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Haha that's pretty neat. It's a cool spot. Cheers!

[@nzoomed]

@@BackcountryKiwiIts probably my favourite spot on the whole kaimais, would be great if there was another hut or two along the Te Hanga ridge.

[@rickkearn7100]

Hey BK another outstanding post! Inspired by your enthusiasm, reminds me of myself back in the day. Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences. I wonder, you mentioned having a GPS track for the original route you wanted to take to your destination. Is that because the trails aren't used as much anymore and they get a bit sketchy without a clear path because of disuse? Cheerio chum, carry on!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks heaps Rick. Yeah so this track is no longer on Topo maps but I manged to get a gpx file for it so I could see where I was on the "track" on my phone. The track is no longer maintained and is very easy to lose so the gpx file was handy to tell me if I was still heading in roughly the right direction. Cheers

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Hope you are nowhere near any current flooding we are having this weekend Zeb.😁👊

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Haha no I am not. Cheers mate

[@robholm1463]

Nice work in the video! - not sure if you know this is a private hut though, and you do need permission to use it. It has not been a doc hut for a long time now - if the hut owners were to arrive, you may be asked to leave. That section of land is also privately owned.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks Rob. I knew it wasn't a DOC hut but I wasn't aware that I needed permission. Algood. I didn't see anybody haha

[@mHysteresis]

Rob how do you know it is private land? I struggle to understand here in NZ where you can and cannot go and what you can and cannot do I would love to go do overnights but it seems excepted huts it is not really possible here

[@beezwaks]

the thing is a log splitter. that's my guess, or a can crusher?

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Yeah I think you are right. Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@tonyr7228]

Bro,anywhere you could recommend to go wild camping in the kato?camp fire and all

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Hey bro. Kaniwhaniwha Campsite on Pirongia is a cool, easily accessible area, if you want a bit more of a hike there is some cool clearings along the bell track in the central clearing area on pirongia. The kaimais have some cool spots but unfortunately fires aren't allowed. Hope that helps man. Cheers

[@triggerhappy3379]

Keen as

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Cheers mate. It was great fun

[@triggerhappy3379]

When u in wairarapa next

[@teahumairangi3781]

Really enjoyed your coverage of this trip. But was unclear on one point. You referred a number of times to Puketutu Hut as a DOC hut but I believe it is privately owned, and needs permission to use?

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Thanks. My apologies it is privately owned but I believe still open and available for people to use. But yes you are correct, it is not a DOC hut. Cheers!

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

First

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Always appreciated bro 👊 Cheers

[@Guycoker1234]

Looks like a can crusher

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Yeah it's an odd contraption for sure