Wills Hut

Wills Hut is a small four-bunk backcountry shelter on a terrace beside the Wills River in Wills Valley, about 40 minutes beyond the marked track's end. It's a destination for experienced trampers planning an overnight stay, not a quick stop. The approach from Gates of Haast Bridge is 7.5 km one way and takes about five to six hours; the route is graded advanced.

The route crosses an unstable slip, follows an old bridle trail through native nettles, climbs and sidles above Wills Gorge, then uses a steel ladder at a rock bluff before dropping through forest to grassy river flats. The marked track ends on a flat, but the hut is still around 40 minutes farther on, so keep navigating after the markers stop. Visitors have also reported difficult route-finding and dense nettles.

Unbridged river crossings and avalanche terrain make conditions matter. Avalanche paths cross the route, usually from May into November. Don't cross rivers when they are flooded or you can't identify a safe crossing, and check current track conditions before setting out.

There are four bunks, mattresses, heating and a non-flush toilet. Water comes from the stream, so there isn't a treated tap; plan to treat it before drinking. Carry your own food. The bunks are first come, first served, and you need hut tickets or a qualifying Backcountry Hut Pass. Take a sleeping mat in case the bunks are full.