Lodging · Arthur's Pass National Park
A remote 10-bunk hut beneath Mount Rolleston’s Crow face.
Overview
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The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Arthur's Pass Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Arthur's Pass National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Crow Hut is a 10-bunk backcountry hut in a tussock clearing on a terrace above the Crow River, about five kilometres upstream from the Crow–Waimakariri confluence. Beech forest reaches the edge of the clearing, and the Crow face of Mount Rolleston closes the valley. This is a remote overnight destination, not a roadside stop.
There are ten bunks with mattresses, a wood stove for heating, and a non-flush toilet. Water comes from a nearby stream, so bring a way to treat it and carry your meals. The hut sits in a known avalanche path; avoid periods of high snow-loading risk. Unbridged river crossings can become unsafe in high water, and the alpine route is best suited to mid-summer through late autumn.
The name recalls the South Island kōkako, also called the orange-wattled crow, recorded during an 1865 exploration. The bird was last seen in the park in the 1930s and is now thought to be probably extinct. The name is a small trace of wildlife that once lived in this valley.
Wildlife
984 sightingsKeaMost seen around noonSighting map
39 sightingsNew Zealand FalconMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
190 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
20 sightingsKākāMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
15 sightingsWekaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
15 sightingsParadise ShelduckMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Arthur's Pass. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingAvalanche Peak Route6.8 km · 7 hr · 3.6 km awaySteep forest, a razor ridge, and the gentler Scotts descent.
ChallengingScotts Track to Avalanche Peak7.1 km · 7 hr · 3.6 km awayA steep, exposed climb from forest to a narrow alpine summit.
ModerateDevils Punchbowl Walking Track2 km · 1 hr · 3.7 km awaySteep stair climb through beech forest to a 131 m waterfall
ModerateArthur’s Pass Walking Track6.8 km · 3.5 hr · 3.7 km awayBeech forest, alpine wetlands and a high-pass lookout
EasyBridal Veil Walk1.8 km · 40 min · 3.7 km awayA short forest walk to distant falls and open mountain views.
ChallengingAvalanche Peak – Crow River Route19.7 km · 10 hr · 3.7 km awayA summit ridge gives way to scree, hut and braided river flats.
EasyMillennium Walk0.6 km · 12 min · 3.7 km awayA village waterfall loop with a bridge, steps, and a chapel view.
ChallengingMount Aicken Track3.1 km · 3 hr · 3.7 km awayA steep, rooty climb to Mount Aicken's bushline and back.Sight · 1.5 km awayAvalanche PeakA serious climb for an expansive Southern Alps panorama.Sight · 3.5 km awayAvalanche Creek WaterfallQuick village stop; take the steep spur for a closer waterfall view.
Lodging · 3.6 km awayMountain House BackpackersA central village base with a proper shared kitchen.
Restaurant · 3.6 km awayArthur’s Pass Café & StorePie, coffee, groceries and the only fuel for a long stretch.
Sight · 3.7 km awayArthur’s Pass ChapelThe altar window frames a waterfall in this quiet village chapel.
Lodging · 3.7 km awayArthur’s Pass Motel & LodgeA warm village base with lodge rooms and a shared kitchen.
Lodging · 3.7 km awayWaimakariri Falls HutA six-bunk hut above the gorge, for serious alpine trampers.
Campground · 3.7 km awayAvalanche Creek Shelter CampsiteA handy village base if you can live with freight trains.Parkwolf’s Arthur's Pass ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
