Hut Bagging - Christmas Village Hut Traditional Cache

There are over 950 DOC back country huts around New Zealand, and we have the ability to check them all out and stay the night if we need/want to. A hobby of mine, after I completed Te Araroa Trail, was to ‘bag’ huts and in the process of doing that, place a geocache at each hut encouraging others to go and check out what is on our own estate.

Nice roomy hut with a view out to the ocean. If you are quiet you may see white tail deer out front.  

http://tramper.co.nz/?931

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/southland/stewart-island-rakiura/christmas-village-hut/

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/stewart-island-rakiura/north-west-circuit-stewart-island-rakiura/track-description/

The tracks that lead to these huts (if there are any) range from easy to extremely difficult.  Some may be a day walk in, others for an overnight stay, while others will take multiple days.  Back country skills may not always be needed but the majority will need some knowledge to take on the adventure. Huts can be busy places but some of the more isolated huts can be seldom visited.  Because of this they can be on the DOC chopping block due to lack of funds.  I am hoping that a series of geocaches at huts around the country may just encourage others to go to where few set foot.

To plan for your trips into the backcountry you can find a lot of information here.  Always be prepared with the right equipment and food.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/plan-and-prepare/safety-in-the-outdoors/

http://www.tramper.co.nz/

http://hutbagger.co.nz/

http://maps.doc.govt.nz/  A great resource to see locations of huts, tracks and other DOC related features.