Parking
Use the designated parking area at the end of Lilybank Road. Reach the route by crossing Macaulay River on foot; the crossing can be difficult after heavy rain or snowmelt.
Overview
About Godley River Route to Red Stag Hut
Why go
- A remote valley approach to a basic hut at the far end.
Heads up
- 25 km one way on a shared 4WD track.
- The Macaulay River crossing can be difficult after rain or snowmelt; Red Stag has only four bunks.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Aoraki / Mount Cook map
Full mapElevation746–940 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Aoraki / Mount Cook Tour Guide
Your drive to Godley River Route to Red Stag Hut, narrated.
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- 24 audio storiesacross Aoraki / Mount Cook’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Rockwren, New Zealand Falcon, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 15 trails, 30 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Godley River Route to Red Stag Hut
What this route coversThe Godley River Route to Red Stag Hut is a 25 km one-way approach into the Godley Valley.
The Godley River Route to Red Stag Hut is a 25 km one-way approach into the Godley Valley. Turn around at Red Stag and the walk is 50 km total. DOC allows about eight hours to reach the hut, so plan for roughly 16 hours of walking across an overnight trip. It is an Expert route on a stony 4WD track, ending at a basic four-bunk hut. This record stops at Red Stag; the additional 7 km to Godley Hut is a separate, unmarked extension and is not included in this distance. Dogs are not allowed.
Getting to the routeLeave your vehicle in the designated parking area at the end of Lilybank Road.
Leave your vehicle in the designated parking area at the end of Lilybank Road. You must cross the Macaulay River on foot to reach the route; DOC warns that crossing can be difficult after heavy rain or snowmelt. The access then follows a public easement across private farmland. Stay on the 4WD track until it reaches conservation land.
The valley approachExpect long stretches across stony flats, with four-wheel-drive vehicles also using the track.
Expect long stretches across stony flats, with four-wheel-drive vehicles also using the track. DOC's estimate is eight hours one way, so don't treat this as a quick valley stroll. The mapped route ends at Red Stag Hut, not Godley Hut.
Staying at Red Stag HutRed Stag is a basic, first-come hut with four bunks, a non-flush toilet and untreated tap water…
Red Stag is a basic, first-come hut with four bunks, a non-flush toilet and untreated tap water that must be boiled. There are no bookings, and DOC advises bringing a tent in case the hut is full. No food service was found along the route, so carry provisions for the whole outing.
The longer Godley Hut extensionDOC describes another 7 km and about three hours one way from Red Stag Hut to Godley Hut.
DOC describes another 7 km and about three hours one way from Red Stag Hut to Godley Hut. The track is generally well formed as far as Separation Stream; beyond it, the route is unmarked through glacial moraines and requires experienced navigation. That adds at least 14 km to a return trip. This route record does not map that extension.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Aoraki /
139 sightingsKeaMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
73 sightingsRockwrenMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
46 sightingsNew Zealand FalconMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
15 sightingsKererūMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
16 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
33 sightingsBlack-fronted TernMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Aoraki / Mount Cook. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
