Healey Creek Hut
Healy trackline
Maintenance status
Healey Creek Hut was minimally maintained by the Department of Conservation up until 2004, then that kind of stopped. The access track hadn't been maintained for a considerable time before that and was picked up by volunteers in the early 200s. The Hut is now also volunteer maintained. Healy Creek Hut was extremely well built back in 1968, and although structurally sound, it had started to move sideways on its piles, and the roof was beginning to rust. In 2018 Tom Hayes of Christchurch secured some Back Country Trust funding and flew in a team to repile and re-roof the Hut and install a water tank. Wet weather prevented completion of the project, and a second visit was made in 2019 to do this. Weather prevented the completion of painting which wasn't done until March 2020. I recut and marked the access track in 2018. In 2022 a toilet was installed as part of a DOC/ volunteer collaboration.
Location
Mikonui catchment. Map BV18. Grid Ref: E1429870/ N5231505 (BV18 299 315). Altitude 1170m. Healey Hut is located on a tussock bench high above the TL of Healey Creek with fabulous views out over the frontal ranges to the Tasman Sea. It can be reached in a day from the Mikonui roadend and is an access point for Galena Ridge and some great alpine crossings to the Whitcombe, Tuke and Waitaha catchments. There are fernbird and kea in the locality and the former, although shy, are curious and will eventually come and check you out if you sit still for long enough.
Access
Access from SH6 to the Mikonui valley is along a long gravel road up the Totara River valley and over a low bush saddle. It's OK for 2WD currently as long as they have a bit of clearance. It's a 3km stroll over paddocks and river flats from the roadend to Mikonui Flat Hut, which has six bunks and a woodburner. The Mikonui needs to be forded but this is not problematic at normal flows. From Mikonui Flat Hut it's a 20-minute walk up the river flats on the TL to the start of the Healey Creek track which starts at a routered sign (1428051E/ 5234253N) near the bush edge about 100m upriver from a conspicuous shingle fan. It goes up a steep rib onto a terrace between two small side-creeks. From here there is a steep climb up the bush faces onto Healey Spur. The section of track up the face and onto the spur from the 350m to the 600m contour is incorrectly marked on NZ topomaps. The adjacent photo shows the line more accurately. The Spur flattens somewhat in the sub-alpine zone and a series of steps and humps are followed to where the track emerges in the tussock on a flat section of ridge just above 1200m. Snow poles lead from here down the tussock faces in a SE direction to the bench where the Hut is located. The track was recut and re-marked in June 2018 and is still in good condition. A bit of trimming was done by Tom primarily in the sub-alpine zone, in 2025. There is a little bit of recent windthrow but nothing substantial. A moderately fit party should be able to reach it Healey Hut from the roadend in 4.5-5.5 hours currently.
Type
Healey Creek Hut is a standard New Zealand Forest Service, 4-bunk S81 design (no. 306) built in April 1968. It was lined internally in the early 80s. A roof fed water tank was installed in April 2018. There is weak cellphone reception from the Hut.
Healey Creek Hut was minimally maintained by the Department of Conservation up until 2004, then that kind of stopped. The access track hadn't been maintained for a considerable time before that and was picked up by volunteers in the early 200s. The Hut is now also volunteer maintained. Healy Creek Hut was extremely well built back in 1968, and although structurally sound, it had started to move sideways on its piles, and the roof was beginning to rust. In 2018 Tom Hayes of Christchurch secured some Back Country Trust funding and flew in a team to repile and re-roof the Hut and install a water tank. Wet weather prevented completion of the project, and a second visit was made in 2019 to do this. Weather prevented the completion of painting which wasn't done until March 2020. I recut and marked the access track in 2018. In 2022 a toilet was installed as part of a DOC/ volunteer collaboration.
Location
Mikonui catchment. Map BV18. Grid Ref: E1429870/ N5231505 (BV18 299 315). Altitude 1170m. Healey Hut is located on a tussock bench high above the TL of Healey Creek with fabulous views out over the frontal ranges to the Tasman Sea. It can be reached in a day from the Mikonui roadend and is an access point for Galena Ridge and some great alpine crossings to the Whitcombe, Tuke and Waitaha catchments. There are fernbird and kea in the locality and the former, although shy, are curious and will eventually come and check you out if you sit still for long enough.
Access
Access from SH6 to the Mikonui valley is along a long gravel road up the Totara River valley and over a low bush saddle. It's OK for 2WD currently as long as they have a bit of clearance. It's a 3km stroll over paddocks and river flats from the roadend to Mikonui Flat Hut, which has six bunks and a woodburner. The Mikonui needs to be forded but this is not problematic at normal flows. From Mikonui Flat Hut it's a 20-minute walk up the river flats on the TL to the start of the Healey Creek track which starts at a routered sign (1428051E/ 5234253N) near the bush edge about 100m upriver from a conspicuous shingle fan. It goes up a steep rib onto a terrace between two small side-creeks. From here there is a steep climb up the bush faces onto Healey Spur. The section of track up the face and onto the spur from the 350m to the 600m contour is incorrectly marked on NZ topomaps. The adjacent photo shows the line more accurately. The Spur flattens somewhat in the sub-alpine zone and a series of steps and humps are followed to where the track emerges in the tussock on a flat section of ridge just above 1200m. Snow poles lead from here down the tussock faces in a SE direction to the bench where the Hut is located. The track was recut and re-marked in June 2018 and is still in good condition. A bit of trimming was done by Tom primarily in the sub-alpine zone, in 2025. There is a little bit of recent windthrow but nothing substantial. A moderately fit party should be able to reach it Healey Hut from the roadend in 4.5-5.5 hours currently.
Type
Healey Creek Hut is a standard New Zealand Forest Service, 4-bunk S81 design (no. 306) built in April 1968. It was lined internally in the early 80s. A roof fed water tank was installed in April 2018. There is weak cellphone reception from the Hut.
Healey reroofing 2018
Condition
Healy Creek Hut is in good condition currently. It was painted, resealed, and provided with new fireproof mattresses by DOC during the summer of 2003/4. In April 2018 Tom's party, John Milne, Geoff Spearpoint, Jane Morris, and Reece Bowen, re-roofed the Hut and installed the water tank. Two of the piles were replaced and drains dug around the Hut. The window frames were scraped and primed, and a door handle added to supplement the bolt. Snow poles were placed from the Hut up the tussock faces to the top end of the track. In April 2019 Tom went back in with a small team and finished the piling, primed the Hut and commenced painting until the rain stopped them. The Hut tie-downs were tightened, and we finished painting the Hut exterior. In 2022 Tom and friends installed a new toilet built by the DOC Hokitika carpenters. The project was BCT funded. In January '25 Tom repainted the windows and the north wall (which was blistering), cleared the drainage ditches and vege from around the Hut, and gave the inside a good clean.
Routes
To access Galena Ridge, it is necessary to climb back up onto Healey Spur from the Hut. What looks to be a more direct and straightforward sidle up the tussock faces on the Healey Creek side of the Spur is blocked by a deep slot just East of the Hut and another further up. Instead follow the waratahs up through the tussock and scattered scrub from the door of the Hut to the top of the Spur. Continue up to just past point 1643m where there is a narrow, exposed section that needs to be traversed with care. The other option is to drop off the Spur at the saddle SE of point 1643m and sidle under the razorback, regaining the Spur at the start of the last steep pitch up onto Galena Ridge.
Healy Creek Hut is in good condition currently. It was painted, resealed, and provided with new fireproof mattresses by DOC during the summer of 2003/4. In April 2018 Tom's party, John Milne, Geoff Spearpoint, Jane Morris, and Reece Bowen, re-roofed the Hut and installed the water tank. Two of the piles were replaced and drains dug around the Hut. The window frames were scraped and primed, and a door handle added to supplement the bolt. Snow poles were placed from the Hut up the tussock faces to the top end of the track. In April 2019 Tom went back in with a small team and finished the piling, primed the Hut and commenced painting until the rain stopped them. The Hut tie-downs were tightened, and we finished painting the Hut exterior. In 2022 Tom and friends installed a new toilet built by the DOC Hokitika carpenters. The project was BCT funded. In January '25 Tom repainted the windows and the north wall (which was blistering), cleared the drainage ditches and vege from around the Hut, and gave the inside a good clean.
Routes
To access Galena Ridge, it is necessary to climb back up onto Healey Spur from the Hut. What looks to be a more direct and straightforward sidle up the tussock faces on the Healey Creek side of the Spur is blocked by a deep slot just East of the Hut and another further up. Instead follow the waratahs up through the tussock and scattered scrub from the door of the Hut to the top of the Spur. Continue up to just past point 1643m where there is a narrow, exposed section that needs to be traversed with care. The other option is to drop off the Spur at the saddle SE of point 1643m and sidle under the razorback, regaining the Spur at the start of the last steep pitch up onto Galena Ridge.
Couloir route up onto Sentinel Peak
A direct traverse East along the crest of the range to Mt Bowen and Mikonui Spur Biv requires a detour around Remarkable Peak on the Cropp side. From the big flat area southwest of summit, drop off down an easy narrow gut beginning at BV18 316 301. Sidle across at 1540m and climb back on to the main ridge up a steepish bit of eroding hillside at BV18 320 301. It's fairly easy to kick footholds in the soft shingly rock to get back on the main range. From here the travel is good to the 1700m contour NE of point 1625m. The least difficult route from here is via a steep couloir that leads up to the col between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak. The gut is accessed by way of a short, exposed sidle over a sloping gravel (or snow depending on the season) bench from the main ridge. Head up the gut which has snow all year round and is steep at the top or cross the gut and climb out onto the rocky rib on its TL. Scramble up this towards Sentinel Peak. Allow a full day for the crossing from Healey Hut to Mikonui Spur Biv. The steeper sections on the Bowen approach will be icy at times during winter and spring, requiring ice axes, crampons, and possibly a rope.
Misty Ridge and the top of Noisy Creek basin can be accessed by dropping down the couloir from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak. The section of ridge between Noisy Creek Saddle and Misty Ridge has a couple of small, exposed notches between points 1648m and 1686m which can be done without a rope but are a bit marginal in terms of handholds. The alternative is a longish detour down Noisy Creek to around the 1400m contour, then back up the ridge to point 1686m. Once on Misty Ridge the travel is easy with good visibility or GPS. The Ridge forks at 1500m and the much better-defined North fork drops into the headwaters of Rapid Creek, while the main ridge running NE, drops down a broad, indistinct tussock face. There is a cairn near the correct drop-off around E1436655/ N5232338 (BV18 367 323).
Further down the ridge becomes more distinct, flattens and kinks East at point 1303m. There is a good-sized tarn and campsite 500m SE of point 1303m and more tarns and camp spots on the NE side of the Mt Browne summit. An old NZFS tops track provides access off Mt Browne down into Rapid Creek, entering the creek just downriver a bit from where the swingbridge used to be before DOC removed it. The top entrance of the track is at 1110m, E1438431/ N5233700 (BV18 384 337) and is not well defined. The track was recut and permolatted by me in 2018-19. It is still easy to follow, is well marked, but has quite a bit of windfall and is starting to overgrow a bit.
You can also continue over Sentinel Peak and down the spur on the TR of Noisy Creek basin. There is a very spacious rock biv on the TR of the basin, located roughly on the 1200m contour on the slopes above the creek. A track leads from the lip of the basin down a steep spur on the TL of Noisy Creek to the Cropp River junction in the Whitcombe. This track is supposedly fully maintained by DOC (their last cut was in 2018), however significant flood and windthrow at the bottom end had made it difficult to locate and follow in the intervening years. Indy Hawthorne and Max Kikstra rectified this in August 2024 when they created a new track start at 5230118N/ 1439072E and recut up to 440m with detours around the windfall. From here up the track should still be fine with only light regen. The new section could do with a few more markers.
Misty Ridge and the top of Noisy Creek basin can be accessed by dropping down the couloir from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak. The section of ridge between Noisy Creek Saddle and Misty Ridge has a couple of small, exposed notches between points 1648m and 1686m which can be done without a rope but are a bit marginal in terms of handholds. The alternative is a longish detour down Noisy Creek to around the 1400m contour, then back up the ridge to point 1686m. Once on Misty Ridge the travel is easy with good visibility or GPS. The Ridge forks at 1500m and the much better-defined North fork drops into the headwaters of Rapid Creek, while the main ridge running NE, drops down a broad, indistinct tussock face. There is a cairn near the correct drop-off around E1436655/ N5232338 (BV18 367 323).
Further down the ridge becomes more distinct, flattens and kinks East at point 1303m. There is a good-sized tarn and campsite 500m SE of point 1303m and more tarns and camp spots on the NE side of the Mt Browne summit. An old NZFS tops track provides access off Mt Browne down into Rapid Creek, entering the creek just downriver a bit from where the swingbridge used to be before DOC removed it. The top entrance of the track is at 1110m, E1438431/ N5233700 (BV18 384 337) and is not well defined. The track was recut and permolatted by me in 2018-19. It is still easy to follow, is well marked, but has quite a bit of windfall and is starting to overgrow a bit.
You can also continue over Sentinel Peak and down the spur on the TR of Noisy Creek basin. There is a very spacious rock biv on the TR of the basin, located roughly on the 1200m contour on the slopes above the creek. A track leads from the lip of the basin down a steep spur on the TL of Noisy Creek to the Cropp River junction in the Whitcombe. This track is supposedly fully maintained by DOC (their last cut was in 2018), however significant flood and windthrow at the bottom end had made it difficult to locate and follow in the intervening years. Indy Hawthorne and Max Kikstra rectified this in August 2024 when they created a new track start at 5230118N/ 1439072E and recut up to 440m with detours around the windfall. From here up the track should still be fine with only light regen. The new section could do with a few more markers.
Route down to Top Tuke Hut
Galena Ridge is reasonably a straightforward traverse for most of its length, and Top Tuke, Hut can be accessed down the ridge running W-NW off point 1974m. The ridge bounds the TR of the hanging basin of a large unnamed side-creek. The route from the lip of the basin down to Top Tuke Hut starts at the end of a flat tussock bench on the TR of the waterfall, (around E1428665/ N5227080 (BV18 287 271)). A small notch in the bluffs provides access down onto a spur on the TR of the waterfall. Drop off the spur further down into the creek on its TR and exit it on the TR where it starts to flatten. Continue in a straight line down through patchy scrub to the Hut. The Hut is visible from the lip of the basin in fine conditions.
Further along Galena Ridge between point 1974m and point 2001m there is one exposed notch that requires up-climbing. A rope may be an option for this.
The views from Mt Beaumont are superb and it is a easy traverse from here around to the junction with Sawtooth Ridge. Ivory Lake Hut is accessed over point 2084m. There is a short down-climb of around 5m through crumbly rock just before its summit that could be problematic for some without a rope. A couple of sections on the lee sides of points 2084m and 1870m may require crampons during the colder months, however in late summer and autumn the few remaining patches of permanent snow can usually be skirted without the use of snow gear. Access to the Hut is down the spur on the TR of the Lake.
Top Waitaha Hut can be accessed by heading West from point 1870m along a flat bench, then dropping down the SE-running spur to the confluence of Watson and Stag Creeks. It is an easy amble down Stag Creek to the Waitaha River, and from here to the Hut.
The route from Mt Beaumont down Steadman Brow to Cropp Knob is straightforward apart from a short steep exposed section just above the 1620m contour. This is probably OK to up-climb without protection, but it may be advisable to carry a rope for those heading down. A maintained track provides access down a side-spur that connects with Cropp Brow at a flat area just NE of Cropp Knob. The track is in excellent shape although several parties have had trouble locating the top entrance markers which are a bit further north than where the track is marked on the NZ Topomap. It leads down to the Price Flat swingbridge in the Whitcombe valley, taking around two hours from the scrubline.
A track from Healey Hut down into Healey Creek marked on the older maps hasn't been maintained for well over 40 years. The odd bit of permolat can still be found at the NW end of the bench on which the Hut is sited but peters out 100m further down. The dense alpine scrub and bluffs below are not encouraging and access into the head of Healey Creek would probably be easier down the side-creek just upriver from the Hut. This appears to be partially blown out further down and may provide access all the way into the Creek.
Repairs needed
The hut needs to be rechecked for leakage in extreme weather and screws added to the ridging and flashings if necessary. Installation of side panels on the porch might be useful in stopping wind driven rain from entering the door egress.
Provisions on Site
A Shovel, a spade, some loppers, a saw, a grubber, a wood splitter, a spare broom handle, some No. 8 wire, two chisels, a hammer, some sealant and a sealant gun, a length of rope, a broom, a paint roller and extension handle, tins of white enamel, exterior primer and red exterior paint, an aluminium basin, a plastic basin, a hearth brush and shovel, two spare louvre panes, three small frypans, two pots, and plastic buckets. There are two wooden benches and two wooden chairs inside and a wooden picnic table outside. Under the hut is an aluminium ladder, a wooden roof ladder, a spare sheet of roofing iron, a length of galvanised spouting and a plastic downpipe.
Further along Galena Ridge between point 1974m and point 2001m there is one exposed notch that requires up-climbing. A rope may be an option for this.
The views from Mt Beaumont are superb and it is a easy traverse from here around to the junction with Sawtooth Ridge. Ivory Lake Hut is accessed over point 2084m. There is a short down-climb of around 5m through crumbly rock just before its summit that could be problematic for some without a rope. A couple of sections on the lee sides of points 2084m and 1870m may require crampons during the colder months, however in late summer and autumn the few remaining patches of permanent snow can usually be skirted without the use of snow gear. Access to the Hut is down the spur on the TR of the Lake.
Top Waitaha Hut can be accessed by heading West from point 1870m along a flat bench, then dropping down the SE-running spur to the confluence of Watson and Stag Creeks. It is an easy amble down Stag Creek to the Waitaha River, and from here to the Hut.
The route from Mt Beaumont down Steadman Brow to Cropp Knob is straightforward apart from a short steep exposed section just above the 1620m contour. This is probably OK to up-climb without protection, but it may be advisable to carry a rope for those heading down. A maintained track provides access down a side-spur that connects with Cropp Brow at a flat area just NE of Cropp Knob. The track is in excellent shape although several parties have had trouble locating the top entrance markers which are a bit further north than where the track is marked on the NZ Topomap. It leads down to the Price Flat swingbridge in the Whitcombe valley, taking around two hours from the scrubline.
A track from Healey Hut down into Healey Creek marked on the older maps hasn't been maintained for well over 40 years. The odd bit of permolat can still be found at the NW end of the bench on which the Hut is sited but peters out 100m further down. The dense alpine scrub and bluffs below are not encouraging and access into the head of Healey Creek would probably be easier down the side-creek just upriver from the Hut. This appears to be partially blown out further down and may provide access all the way into the Creek.
Repairs needed
The hut needs to be rechecked for leakage in extreme weather and screws added to the ridging and flashings if necessary. Installation of side panels on the porch might be useful in stopping wind driven rain from entering the door egress.
Provisions on Site
A Shovel, a spade, some loppers, a saw, a grubber, a wood splitter, a spare broom handle, some No. 8 wire, two chisels, a hammer, some sealant and a sealant gun, a length of rope, a broom, a paint roller and extension handle, tins of white enamel, exterior primer and red exterior paint, an aluminium basin, a plastic basin, a hearth brush and shovel, two spare louvre panes, three small frypans, two pots, and plastic buckets. There are two wooden benches and two wooden chairs inside and a wooden picnic table outside. Under the hut is an aluminium ladder, a wooden roof ladder, a spare sheet of roofing iron, a length of galvanised spouting and a plastic downpipe.
