Historic Cedar Flat Hut

The place

Basic 2-bunk heritage shelter managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the Kokatahi and Whitcombe rivers area, West Coast (South Island, New Zealand), at 442 metres elevation, about 25 km inland from Hokitika. Served as a base for government-employed deer culler-hunters. Considered the best surviving example of its type on the West Coast. Built in 1957, showcasing traditional carpentry rarely seen today: timber hand-hewn from the surrounding forest and airdropped materials. Of the four original identical structures, Cedar Flat is the only one to retain its hand-worked timber. Free access. Approach via the Toaroha track, partly following an old sawmill tramway route and a 1930s foot track. Wren Creek hot springs nearby, chance of spotting the blue duck (whio). The site has two huts: the historic 1957 structure and a 1968 Forest Service building.