Tunnel creek hut
Roof repairs: Photo Geoff Spearpoint 2014
Maintenance Status
Tunnel Creek Hut is a Permolat maintain-by-community initiative with Geoff Spearpoint as signatory. After the switch from Forest Service to Department of Conservation oversight in 1987 the Hut went through a couple of decades without any significant maintenance being carried out. When Geoff took it on board in 2012 it was being considered for removal. DOC continue to fly in from time to time to do inspections, and obligatory compliance tasks such as putting up, "no smoking" and "fire exit" signs, and bunk restraining rails. The track up from Stew Creek had been left similarly unmaintained and there have been several trips in the ensuing years by Geoff and other volunteers to keep it clear and marked. The Hut received a complete makeover from Geoff and helpers in 2014 and has had ongoing input since then.
Location
Paringa catchment. Map BY13. GPS Ref: E1321593/ N5142317 (BY13 216 423). Altitude 150m. Tunnel Creek Hut is located in the head of the Paringa valley in South Westland. The Paringa drains a section of the Alps that backs on to the Landsborough catchment. It is a valley of contrasts, with picturesque, gentle lower reaches and rugged and glaciated peaks in its headwaters. The unnamed saddle at the head of the Paringa provides access into McCullagh Creek and the Clarke valley. Tunnel Creek gets a reasonable level of use from range of groups, including hunters, fishermen, trampers and climbers. The number of visits has doubled since the maintenance work was done. The most obvious evidence of this is the frequently empty woodshed
Access
Access to Tunnel Creek Hut is up a farm track at the Paringa bridge on SH6. Ben Monk (Tel: 03 751 0899) farms the river flats up to the Otoko confluence and likes folk going through to ring and let him know. The route up the TL is a mix of grassy flats, track, and river travel. It is possible to cross and re-cross the river at normal/ low flows to get a straighter line, but this doesn't reduce travel times a great deal at the moment. There is a small bluff on the TL just below Stew Creek with a roughly cut line through it.
There is a locked hut belonging to Ben on the TR of Stew Creek. A track commences by the shed here and goes up the TR of Stew Creek for around 500m before cutting South through open grassy meadows and patches of forest to connect with the Paringa a couple of kilometres above the Otoko confluence. From here to the Hut, it is mostly track with several short sections of river travel. A large unnamed side-creek around an hour up from Stew Creek would be problematic to cross if it was higher than normal. The tracked sections are mostly along low terraces with a silver beech canopy and piupiu (crown fern) understory. The river is picturesque, with beautiful clear water, large still pools and mossy boulders. Geoff took a crew in to work on the track sections of the route in August 2026 and apart from a few bits where small hardwoods are crowding the trackline, it's all in pretty good shape. Allow two hours from the Bridge to Stew Creek, and three from there to the Hut.
There is helicopter access on the grass clearing next to the Hut.
Type
Tunnel Creek Hut is a standard NZFS 6-bunk S70 design with open fire, built in 1965. It was lined at some point. A toilet was built in the late 2000's by some community spirited type. The woodshed was built by Geoff and Co. in 2014. Water is from the River right next to the Hut.
Condition
Tunnel Creek was in remarkably good condition prior to the 2014 repairs, even after a couple of decades of neglect. The frame, joists and bearers were sound, and the structural wood all treated pine. In 2014 some broken floorboards were replaced by Geoff and Liz Wightwick, a leak between the chimney and side window repaired, and some facing around the door replaced. Another trip in later that year saw the bulk of the maintenance completed by Geoff, Hugh van Noorden and Peter Fullerton using funding from the new High-Country Consortium. The flat-iron doorstep protector, back windowsill, skylight, and roof ridging were replaced. The woodshed was built, the fireplace relined and its base concreted. Sections of buckled interior ply lining were replaced, the exterior of the Hut repainted, and a drainage channel dug away from the Hut. 2015 saw two trips. On the first Hugh and Tracy Lee Burkhart finished the exterior walls and painted the interior and a month later the final exterior colours, skylight drip cover, long drop upgrade, and interior painting were completed by Geoff, Liz and Hugh. In August this year another Geoff-led party replaced a couple of door hinges and gave the Hut a good clean. We had to refill the woodshed which was completely empty. This appears to be a universal and sadly unavoidable downside of increased use of our remote huts. The main users of Tunnel Creek Hut (the ones that actually log their visits) are hunters and trans-alpinists. Whoever's up there next, please replace what you use.
Tunnel Creek Hut is a Permolat maintain-by-community initiative with Geoff Spearpoint as signatory. After the switch from Forest Service to Department of Conservation oversight in 1987 the Hut went through a couple of decades without any significant maintenance being carried out. When Geoff took it on board in 2012 it was being considered for removal. DOC continue to fly in from time to time to do inspections, and obligatory compliance tasks such as putting up, "no smoking" and "fire exit" signs, and bunk restraining rails. The track up from Stew Creek had been left similarly unmaintained and there have been several trips in the ensuing years by Geoff and other volunteers to keep it clear and marked. The Hut received a complete makeover from Geoff and helpers in 2014 and has had ongoing input since then.
Location
Paringa catchment. Map BY13. GPS Ref: E1321593/ N5142317 (BY13 216 423). Altitude 150m. Tunnel Creek Hut is located in the head of the Paringa valley in South Westland. The Paringa drains a section of the Alps that backs on to the Landsborough catchment. It is a valley of contrasts, with picturesque, gentle lower reaches and rugged and glaciated peaks in its headwaters. The unnamed saddle at the head of the Paringa provides access into McCullagh Creek and the Clarke valley. Tunnel Creek gets a reasonable level of use from range of groups, including hunters, fishermen, trampers and climbers. The number of visits has doubled since the maintenance work was done. The most obvious evidence of this is the frequently empty woodshed
Access
Access to Tunnel Creek Hut is up a farm track at the Paringa bridge on SH6. Ben Monk (Tel: 03 751 0899) farms the river flats up to the Otoko confluence and likes folk going through to ring and let him know. The route up the TL is a mix of grassy flats, track, and river travel. It is possible to cross and re-cross the river at normal/ low flows to get a straighter line, but this doesn't reduce travel times a great deal at the moment. There is a small bluff on the TL just below Stew Creek with a roughly cut line through it.
There is a locked hut belonging to Ben on the TR of Stew Creek. A track commences by the shed here and goes up the TR of Stew Creek for around 500m before cutting South through open grassy meadows and patches of forest to connect with the Paringa a couple of kilometres above the Otoko confluence. From here to the Hut, it is mostly track with several short sections of river travel. A large unnamed side-creek around an hour up from Stew Creek would be problematic to cross if it was higher than normal. The tracked sections are mostly along low terraces with a silver beech canopy and piupiu (crown fern) understory. The river is picturesque, with beautiful clear water, large still pools and mossy boulders. Geoff took a crew in to work on the track sections of the route in August 2026 and apart from a few bits where small hardwoods are crowding the trackline, it's all in pretty good shape. Allow two hours from the Bridge to Stew Creek, and three from there to the Hut.
There is helicopter access on the grass clearing next to the Hut.
Type
Tunnel Creek Hut is a standard NZFS 6-bunk S70 design with open fire, built in 1965. It was lined at some point. A toilet was built in the late 2000's by some community spirited type. The woodshed was built by Geoff and Co. in 2014. Water is from the River right next to the Hut.
Condition
Tunnel Creek was in remarkably good condition prior to the 2014 repairs, even after a couple of decades of neglect. The frame, joists and bearers were sound, and the structural wood all treated pine. In 2014 some broken floorboards were replaced by Geoff and Liz Wightwick, a leak between the chimney and side window repaired, and some facing around the door replaced. Another trip in later that year saw the bulk of the maintenance completed by Geoff, Hugh van Noorden and Peter Fullerton using funding from the new High-Country Consortium. The flat-iron doorstep protector, back windowsill, skylight, and roof ridging were replaced. The woodshed was built, the fireplace relined and its base concreted. Sections of buckled interior ply lining were replaced, the exterior of the Hut repainted, and a drainage channel dug away from the Hut. 2015 saw two trips. On the first Hugh and Tracy Lee Burkhart finished the exterior walls and painted the interior and a month later the final exterior colours, skylight drip cover, long drop upgrade, and interior painting were completed by Geoff, Liz and Hugh. In August this year another Geoff-led party replaced a couple of door hinges and gave the Hut a good clean. We had to refill the woodshed which was completely empty. This appears to be a universal and sadly unavoidable downside of increased use of our remote huts. The main users of Tunnel Creek Hut (the ones that actually log their visits) are hunters and trans-alpinists. Whoever's up there next, please replace what you use.
Tunnel Creek Rock Biv: Photo Danilo Hegg 2009
Routes
There is a track up to Tunnel Creek Rock Biv from Tunnel Creek Hut that never received any maintenance under DOC's tenure but has been kept open by volunteers. The track starts on the TL of Tunnel Creek a short distance up from its confluence with the Paringa. It climbs very steeply up the bush faces initially, then flattens and proceeds in a series of steps onto point 542m. The forest on the top of this knoll is thin and stunted with open patches. From here the track drops into a hollow before climbing the broad spur up to the biv. Geoff and Jane Morris did a bit of trimming and re-marking on the upper sections of it in May 2019. Around the 1040m contour the terrain flattens and the silver beech forest transitions abruptly to open tussock. The rock biv is just north of where the track emerges. It has a fireplace and can sleep four or so people quite comfortably. Water can be a bit of a problem up here during dry periods, and the couple of small shallow tarns in the vicinity sometimes get fouled by deer stomping around in them.
There is a track up to Tunnel Creek Rock Biv from Tunnel Creek Hut that never received any maintenance under DOC's tenure but has been kept open by volunteers. The track starts on the TL of Tunnel Creek a short distance up from its confluence with the Paringa. It climbs very steeply up the bush faces initially, then flattens and proceeds in a series of steps onto point 542m. The forest on the top of this knoll is thin and stunted with open patches. From here the track drops into a hollow before climbing the broad spur up to the biv. Geoff and Jane Morris did a bit of trimming and re-marking on the upper sections of it in May 2019. Around the 1040m contour the terrain flattens and the silver beech forest transitions abruptly to open tussock. The rock biv is just north of where the track emerges. It has a fireplace and can sleep four or so people quite comfortably. Water can be a bit of a problem up here during dry periods, and the couple of small shallow tarns in the vicinity sometimes get fouled by deer stomping around in them.
The Buttress, the Saddle over to McCullagh Creek, and Douglas Spur: Photo Danilo Hegg 2009
To access the head of the Paringa from the rock biv, head South across the bench and up through a narrow tongue of beech forest around into the top basin of a small side-creek that feeds the upper Paringa. Sidle southeast along the low ridge bounding the creeks TL, and past the tarn marked on the map. Countinue sidling at around the 1200m contour for another 4-500 mteres, then drop down into the head basin of the Paringa. Follow the Paringa up to around the 1220m contour where it veers NE, exit and head straight up the tussock faces to the unnamed saddle at 1440m. There are a few bluffy bits on the McCullagh Creek side of the saddle which can be avoided by picking the right line down.
The large tussock flat just above the bushline in McCullagh Creek has plenty of good camping spots. From here it is a long, rough descent down to the Clarke River, up Saddle Creek, and over to Marks Flat. Alternately, there is a high tops sidle around the head of Murdoch Creek and the lower SW ridge of Mt. Hooker that would provide access to Marks Flat. Allow a full day for both routes. A higher sidle is also possible under The Buttress and points 2005 and 2018m onto the South McCullagh Glacier, then around the 2000m contour and down into the top basin of Murdoch Creek, just below the ice lake. Alpine gear and skills are required for route as there are some big slots on the upper McCullagh Glacier, although it may now be possible with glacial retreat to sidle lower around the rock slabs below the snowfield.
The large tussock flat just above the bushline in McCullagh Creek has plenty of good camping spots. From here it is a long, rough descent down to the Clarke River, up Saddle Creek, and over to Marks Flat. Alternately, there is a high tops sidle around the head of Murdoch Creek and the lower SW ridge of Mt. Hooker that would provide access to Marks Flat. Allow a full day for both routes. A higher sidle is also possible under The Buttress and points 2005 and 2018m onto the South McCullagh Glacier, then around the 2000m contour and down into the top basin of Murdoch Creek, just below the ice lake. Alpine gear and skills are required for route as there are some big slots on the upper McCullagh Glacier, although it may now be possible with glacial retreat to sidle lower around the rock slabs below the snowfield.
View South from McCullagh.
Mt McCullagh is a relatively easy climb via its western ridge from the low point just East of point 2018m. This is a rock scramble in late summer and autumn but would require snow gear at other times.
The unnamed range running from the saddle at the head of the Paringa all the way down to Eureka is traversable. The head of the Moeraki and Middle Head Hut can be accessed from the Saddle in the head of Zeilian Creek. Drop into the top basin of Zeilian Creek from point 1561m, South of Rough Ridge.
There have been sporadic crossings of the saddle in the head of Serpentine Creek between Tunnel Creek and Middle Head Hut, but it is not a particularly easy route, with bluffs and alpine scrub to contend with. The lower portion of Serpentine Creek is gorgy most of the way but can be negotiated on the terraces on the TL. The head of Serpentine Creek is scrubby and bluffy with waterfalls around the 500m contour. An unmaintained, overgrown NZFS track goes the open flat at point 606m down to Middle Head Hut. 12–14-hour track times are the norm for this route. The track from Middle Head down to Horseshoe Flat in the Moeraki is no longer maintained but is still relatively easy to follow.
Repairs still needed.
Longer term replacement of some of the piles (still the Hut's original untreated silver pine ones). Shifting the Hut back from the River may be required in the longer term. Currently the riverbank (which is quite close to the Hut) is stable and there's not a huge flow in the River at this end of the valley. The scrubbier bits of track needs finishing off on the section between Stew Creek and the first big side-creek.
Provisions on Site
Two frypans, two billies, a plastic wash basin, a stainless-steel bucket, two plastic buckets, two saws, a bowsaw, an axe, a shovel, a hearth shovel and broom, a broom, an NZFS food bin, and assorted nails. Geoff has a bit of his own gear and various odds and sods in the cupboard.
The unnamed range running from the saddle at the head of the Paringa all the way down to Eureka is traversable. The head of the Moeraki and Middle Head Hut can be accessed from the Saddle in the head of Zeilian Creek. Drop into the top basin of Zeilian Creek from point 1561m, South of Rough Ridge.
There have been sporadic crossings of the saddle in the head of Serpentine Creek between Tunnel Creek and Middle Head Hut, but it is not a particularly easy route, with bluffs and alpine scrub to contend with. The lower portion of Serpentine Creek is gorgy most of the way but can be negotiated on the terraces on the TL. The head of Serpentine Creek is scrubby and bluffy with waterfalls around the 500m contour. An unmaintained, overgrown NZFS track goes the open flat at point 606m down to Middle Head Hut. 12–14-hour track times are the norm for this route. The track from Middle Head down to Horseshoe Flat in the Moeraki is no longer maintained but is still relatively easy to follow.
Repairs still needed.
Longer term replacement of some of the piles (still the Hut's original untreated silver pine ones). Shifting the Hut back from the River may be required in the longer term. Currently the riverbank (which is quite close to the Hut) is stable and there's not a huge flow in the River at this end of the valley. The scrubbier bits of track needs finishing off on the section between Stew Creek and the first big side-creek.
Provisions on Site
Two frypans, two billies, a plastic wash basin, a stainless-steel bucket, two plastic buckets, two saws, a bowsaw, an axe, a shovel, a hearth shovel and broom, a broom, an NZFS food bin, and assorted nails. Geoff has a bit of his own gear and various odds and sods in the cupboard.