Rod Donald Hut

The Ron Donald hut is owned and maintained by the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust.

It sits on a 10 ha private property of mainly regenerating native bush protected by a QEII covenant. It offers wonderful views over the Little River area and surrounding hills.

Facilities

Verandah
Lounge with stove for heating the hut (not suitable for cooking, firewood supplied)
Bunk room
Solar lighting
Tank water (should be boiled or treated before using)
Composting toilet

What to bring

Cooking stove, pots, pans
Sleeping bag
Toilet paper

Heritage

The hut was originally built as a private cabin in the early 1990s. The Rod Donald Trust purchased it in 2014 and upgraded it to meet the DOC Serviced Hut standards, before formally opening it to the public in November 2015. At the opening ceremony local Kaumatua James Robinson from Wairewa lifted the tapu alongside Rod Donald's father, partner and daughters. Rod Donald had a deep love for Banks Peninsula and is buried at St Andrew's church near Little River, in the valley below the hut.

Getting there

It's 50 minutes from Port Levy Saddle, which can be accessed from the car park at the top of the Western Valley Road from Little River or via Te Ara Pātaka from Montgomery Scenic Reserve.