Staying in huts whilst hiking in Australia

[RickyF]

Hi there. I was wondering if I could pick people's brains on the subject of staying in huts whilst hiking in Australia. I'm doing some research for an article I'm writing. I'm from NZ, where we have a huge network of huts, run and funded by the Department of Conservation, often in partnership with Tramping (Hiking) Clubs.
SInce moving to Australia I've noticed people don't really stay in huts - indeed most huts are relics of the past and not set up for accommodation whilst hiking. So I was wondering if anyone has had experience in staying in these huts, and whether there is a mood for better-maintained huts to be built and used here. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Hallu]

With Australian mild climate and lack of mountains, staying in huts isn't really common. I had a friend who did it on the Overland Track, and it was pretty horrible with rats and rough bedding. But the 3 capes track is leaning toward this with more serious NZ-style huts. Personally I'd rather camp. Federation hut and Mitchell hut near Mt Feathertop are pretty new since they've been rebuilt ( http://www.hutsvictoria.org.au/_pdfs/fe ... ebuild.pdf ) , not sure if there are already rodents in them or not.

[tastrax]

In Australia its a real mixed bag. There are combinations of public and private huts that are maintained by various organisations including volunteer groups.

here are a few of those organisations that often work on huts

http://www.khuts.org/
http://www.hutsvictoria.org.au/cms/
http://www.mountainhuts.com.au/index.htm
http://www.wildcaretas.org.au/

[Strider]

+1

Benefits of camping:

- Privacy
- Cleaner and no bugs/rodents
- Can get away from the snorers
- Often warmer
- I'm carrying a tent anyway, I might as well use it

[RickyF]

Good stuff, thanks for the help...keep it coming! I have to say, I guess every country has their own ways of doing things. I would also suggest that bushfires might be another reason why we are reluctant to build new huts in Australia?

[stepbystep]

I'll only stay in a hut if it's with my walking buddies and in winter. Even then I might just use the hut for cooking/drying/socialising and sleep in my tent. I snore and am a restless sleeper myself and hate the idea of putting others through that. I stayed in a few huts a few years back and they're just dirty/cold and feel like they're disease ridden for the most part.

Some friends really enjoy the hut thing and walk the OLT a couple times a year for the social aspect of meeting people from all over the world, I'd imagine the 3 Capes Track will appeal to them for similar reasons...

[biggbird]

Recently went walking in Nepal, seemed like such a strange thing to be staying indoors while walking! Obviously Nepal is even more different to Australia, with accomodation being at lodges which also have food available etc, but still, just strange.

Speaking from a Tassie perspective, it's probably also worth pointing out that a lot of the walking available here is actually relatively remote and not well-travelled, meaning huts aren't so necessary or so easy to implement. Some of the more high volume areas such as the OLT and Frenchman's do already have huts in place, and sounds like the capes will soon too. Other places, like The Walls of Jerusalem, Western Arthurs have tent platforms to try and decrease the environmental impact, but I also suspect that maintaining huts to a decent standard somewhere like the WAs would be a bit of a chore.

Plus, it also lets us claim to be much tougher than everyone else, which is the really important part

[neilmny]

It's my understanding that the huts in Victoria are generally just for emergency refuge and not for
use as a holiday shack. I believe some clubs own/maintain some of them but they are all available
for shelter in an emergency.
If I'm off the rails here I'd appreciate someone who knows updating me on what is correct.

[clarence]

I agree completely with Strider. Pine Valley hut is one of the most putrid examples, stinky wet socks next to peoples food. Yuk.

However, there are a very large proportion of walkers (maybe not members of this forum) who love staying in huts and fraternising with rodents.

It varies a lot between locations, eg the quiet solitude of huts on the Central Plateau of Tasmania (Ironstone Hut, Lady Lake) vs the multinational circus at huts on the Overland Track (Pelion).

Clarence

[Mark F]

Generally huts in Southern NSW (KNP etc) are useful in snow or really bad weather but you are usually better sleeping in a tent rather than a hut. Using the hut for cooking, eating and socialising is common and they do often have toilets associated with them so minimising that impact. They tend to act as a focus for activity. The location of huts provides a good indication of permanent water and usually reasonable camping and so become de facto locations for over night stays.

[forest]

Generally huts in Southern NSW (KNP etc) are useful in snow or really bad weather but you are usually better sleeping in a tent rather than a hut. Using the hut for cooking, eating and socialising is common and they do often have toilets associated with them so minimising that impact. They tend to act as a focus for activity. The location of huts provides a good indication of permanent water and usually reasonable camping and so become de facto locations for over night stays.

Same same. I've spent some nights in the alpine huts but only if it looks like bad weather and we are close to one. They normally are in a nice spot close to water and have a toilet. Great spots to cook dinner and hang out in until bedtime.
Normally full of rodents though so if you stay in them or store your gear in there, hang it from the roof.
The OLT huts as in NZ can be very busy and full of all sorts of people. Weather your going to get along and like what everyone else is doing is well,
Ear plugs go a long way in a hut......
At least generally if you can handle the company you don't have to pack up and lug a damp tent if it's not been used for the night.
Spose that's one pro.

[Aushiker]

Being in Western Australia, which I guess is not part of Australia we don't have huts generally. The main tracks such as the Bibbulmun Track and the Coastal Plains Walk Trail have three sided shelters. The Cape to Cape Track does not have anything.

That said some of the Bibbulmun Track campsites have been known for issues with mice, rats and the odd snake or three

This is one of the nicer campsites on the Bibbulmun Track - Frankland River



A campsite on the Coastal Plains Walk Trail



Andrew

[Clusterpod]

That said some of the Bibbulmun Track campsites have been known for issues with mice, rats and the odd snake or three

This is one of the nicer campsites on the Bibbulmun Track - Frankland River

Frankland River hut had quite an aggressive, pack-tearing possum too!

[Aushiker]

Frankland River hut had quite an aggressive, pack-tearing possum too!

Ah yes, forgot about the possum

Andrew

[wayno]

+1

Benefits of camping:

- Privacy
- Cleaner and no bugs/rodents
- Can get away from the snorers
- Often warmer
- I'm carrying a tent anyway, I might as well use it

get away from *&%$#! australians

[whynotwalk]

get away from *&%$#! australians

Most intemperate wayno!

As a small pay-back, I'll quote something I wrote about this in my blog last year (after walking the Greenstone/Caples Track).

Exactly why huts are so plentiful in New Zealand is a long story. Let’s just say that it’s down to Kiwi history: a response over time to the needs of trampers, foresters and hunters in remote places. We could also add that the often fierce weather and terrain make safe and solid shelters a sensible option. What we should NEVER say is that it has anything to do with New Zealanders being a softer breed. That suggestion from an Australian would be taken as an underarm delivery, even if we could point out that there are such fripperies as mattresses, inside taps and sinks, and even flushing toilets in some tramping huts!

cheers

Peter

[wayno]

touche Peter....

[ryantmalone]

Hi there. I was wondering if I could pick people's brains on the subject of staying in huts whilst hiking in Australia. I'm doing some research for an article I'm writing. I'm from NZ, where we have a huge network of huts, run and funded by the Department of Conservation, often in partnership with Tramping (Hiking) Clubs.
SInce moving to Australia I've noticed people don't really stay in huts - indeed most huts are relics of the past and not set up for accommodation whilst hiking. So I was wondering if anyone has had experience in staying in these huts, and whether there is a mood for better-maintained huts to be built and used here. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've never really heard anyone cry out for some better maintained huts to be built, and frankly I think that we have more than enough huts in the heavily trafficked areas here in Victoria at least.

That said, I dont mind camping out in the odd hut every now and again, especially if there are other people camping there, and if the vibe is good. Had a great night in Vera Hut, and several good nights in Bivouac, Cleve Cole, and Federation Hut with others.

I do find however that most people just enjoy tranquility, and enjoying the solitude of the bush, pitching a tent and roughing it rather than rolling out a mat in a hut. I grew up more with an appreciation of our huts rather than a need to camp out in them though.

[RickyF]

Thanks for the info, people. It definitely sounds like there is a real cultural difference in the way overnight accommodation is done in Australia as opposed to NZ. Does anyone know if there has ever been an attempt for either federal or state governments to build and maintain huts in Australia? I know there are some that are maintained by clubs.

[biggbird]

^Doubt it, or at least not on a large scale. They hardly have enough money to keep some of the tracks open, let alone build huts on them...

[Strider]

One point that needs to be made is that huts are not a necessity - at least not for local bushwalkers who have their own gear.

It's likely that they are more important in NZ because their tourism figures are comprised of a higher number of people seeking outdoor experiences. However, the reliance on huts in NZ is definitely far too high. So much so that most people don't even carry a tent for emergencies and rely on having a mattress to sleep on each night. It is these kinds of people that die when things don't go according to plan.

[wayno]

doc in nz have been removing some huts using striders philosophy... that huts can be a factor in some bushwalker deaths. ill equiped people who have to or want to push on in difficult conditions to get to a hut when they should either turn back or camp (if they have their own shelter)
double edged sword really, huts have saved a lot of lives in nz as well as been mitigating factors in people dying.

[north-north-west]

It's my understanding that the huts in Victoria are generally just for emergency refuge and not for use as a holiday shack. I believe some clubs own/maintain some of them but they are all available
for shelter in an emergency.
If I'm off the rails here I'd appreciate someone who knows updating me on what is correct.

Officially yes, the huts are designated as being only for emergency shelter - this is for legal reasons as there are certain standards that must be met if a structure is to be officially rated as suitable for public accommodation, and bush huts don't measure up. However, the vast majority of Vic & NSW alpine walkers use huts as their primary (and often only) accommodation.

[Strider]

It's my understanding that the huts in Victoria are generally just for emergency refuge and not for use as a holiday shack. I believe some clubs own/maintain some of them but they are all available
for shelter in an emergency.
If I'm off the rails here I'd appreciate someone who knows updating me on what is correct.

Officially yes, the huts are designated as being only for emergency shelter - this is for legal reasons as there are certain standards that must be met if a structure is to be officially rated as suitable for public accommodation, and bush huts don't measure up. However, the vast majority of Vic & NSW alpine walkers use huts as their primary (and often only) accommodation.

Sounds like the huts in the US that have to have wheelchair access - despite being 5 days walk from anywhere even remotely wheelchair friendly.

[north-north-west]

Thanks for the info, people. It definitely sounds like there is a real cultural difference in the way overnight accommodation is done in Australia as opposed to NZ. Does anyone know if there has ever been an attempt for either federal or state governments to build and maintain huts in Australia? I know there are some that are maintained by clubs.

Both the Victorian and NSW High Country huts that are within the National Parks are maintained at least partially by the respective Parks Services or, at the least, have some maintenance funding from them. A large proportion of the funding for many of those huts recently rebuilt after fires has come from the Parks Service. Not, I must add, entirely to everyone's satisfaction. There are those who think that once a hut has burnt down, it should stay down. (OK. I admit I'm one of them.)

[photonaturally]

I will never say no to a water tank.

[Strider]

I will never say no to a water tank.

Doesn't mean you have to use the hut.