If you’re looking for overnight hikes near Wellington, there are three main areas you can go to stay in huts:
- Tararua Ranges
- Aorangi Forest Park
- Remutaka Forest Park
I’ve also added a couple of campsites to this list. There’s one you might not have considered that’s super easy to access.
Best for families?
Matiu/Somes Island for the easy access.
Best overnight hike for sunset?
Powell Hut.
Best overnight hike for sunrise?
Kapakapanui Hut.
Best overnight hike near Wellington in winter?
I would opt for Washpool Hut. It’s the most reliable option.
Shortest walk to a hut?
Both the campsites are short walks.
THE 5 OVERNIGHT HIKES NEAR WELLINGTON
1. Powell Hut on Mt Holdsworth – Jumbo Circuit
2. Kapakapanui Hut
3. Washpool Hut
4. Putangirua Pinnacles
5. Matiu/Somes Island
Here are the locations of the huts and campsites. You can click on the image to open Google Maps in a new window.
1. POWELL HUT ON MT HOLDSWORTH – JUMBO CIRCUIT
How much does the hut cost?
Sunday to Friday
Adult (18+ years): $25/night
Child/youth (5-17 years): $12.50/night
Under 5’s: free
Saturday
Adult (18+ years): $30 per night
Child/youth (5–17 years): $15 per night
Under 5’s: free
How long is the hike to the hut (and back)? ~9km each way. ~23km for the full circuit.
How hard is the track? Medium.
If you get a good weather window to escape and go hiking in the Tararua Ranges for a weekend, you’re in for a treat. Considering how close they are to Wellington, you’ll feel a million miles away.
The hike to Powell Hut can be done as overnight out and back, or you can complete the full Jumbo-Holdsworth Circuit in two days. If you’re not fit, and new to staying in huts overnight, the out and back option might well be the best option (also best if the weather turns nasty). If you’re fit, and the weather is stunning, the circuit is awesome.
The climb up to Powell Hut will push the fitness of many, but once you get above the treeline, it’s so worth it. Fingers crossed you’ve got clear skies for maximum views.
2. KAPAKAPANUI HUT
How much does the hut cost?
Adults (18+): $10/night.
Youth (5 – 17): $5/night.
Child (under 4 years): Free.
How long is the hike to the hut (and back)? ~13km
How hard is the track? Hard.
The Kapakapanui Track isn’t a long track for an overnight hike, but it’s not easy with a steep relentless ascent up to the hut. There’s some beautiful forest you’ll walk through.
You won’t get much in the way of the views until you get above the treeline, which is past the hut. So in a perfect world, you’ll get an afternoon start on the way to the hut, then maximise you’re second day to enjoy some time above the treeline with epic views of the Tararua’s, Kapiti Island, and beyond.
There’s a couple of other tracks you can connect to if you want, but then continue the loop back down to the starting point.
The hut gets some people, but there’s a reasonable chance you’ll be the only one living there.
This track is steep! So bring your hiking poles for the descent.
There are heaps of amazing huts in the Tararua Ranges you can explore. It was hard to choose just these two, but they’re epic.
3. WASHPOOL HUT
How much does the hut cost?
Adult (18+ years): $10/night
Youth (5–17 years): $5/night
Child/Infant (under 5’s): free
How long is the hike to the hut (and back)? 10km each way.
How hard is the track? Medium.
Walking from Cape Palliser Road to Washpool Hut starts off as a bit of a tourist hike as you pass the Putangirua Pinnacles which are fun to explore.
This track has lots of different terrains to explore, and is steep in spots! I’d recommend you have a GPX file for this hike as it can be overgrown in parts.
4. PUTANGIRUA PINNACLES
Adult
How much does it cost to camp here?
Adult (18+ years): $10/night
Child (5–17 years): $5/night
Infant (under 5’s): free
The Putangirua Pinnacles are a gorgeous tourist attraction near Martinborough in their own right. But you can explore the pinnacles and the track around them, before parking up at the campsite for the evening. It’s a magical spot!
5. MATIU/SOMES ISLAND
How much does it cost to camp here?
Adult (18+ years): $15/night
Child (5–17 years): $7.50/night
Infant (under 5’s): free
I’m still impressed that a day trip to Matiu/Somes Island isn’t one of the more popular things to do in Wellington. It’s so easy to jump on the ferry and visit the island for a few hours. But you can camp overnight on the island!
Somes Island isn’t massive and while there’s only a few short walks on the island, it’s not exactly a hike. But it’s a great place if you’ve never been camping overnight before and/or want to try that new sleeping bag or what not you’ve bought.
What do you think? I hope this has helped you get ready to head into the outdoors and disconnect for a night.
If you’ve got any questions about these overnight hikes near Wellington, or other options, leave a comment below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.
Have a great hike!
No time for an overnight hike or is the weather looking average on one of the days you’d be hiking? There are lots of awesome day walks in Wellington to do.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.