A new Mt Somers Hut

Mt Somers is a favourite tramping area for Honora and me. It's not usually our first choice though. We usually save it for when the Nor'wester brings heavy rain in the main ranges.

And because the Nor'wester is a fairly regular occurrence in Canterbury, it's just as well the Mt Somers area can take a lot of exploring.

To give us more time we prefer to drive down from Christchurch on the Friday night and walk straight in to the hut. It only takes us an hour to walk in there in the dark.

The anticipation of lighting the open fire and bunking down in the old musterer's hut was always a big part of the attraction.

Sadly we won't have this to look forward to now. DoC have just completed construction of a large new building to replace the lovely historic old hut.

I've got to admit I was surprised to see the scale of the new building when we last went in there. It's sure going to take a bit of getting used to.

And new trampers won't have any idea of the historic experience they've missed when the old one's gone.

You can read this article in the Ashburton Guardian if you want a more positive rah-rah-rah PR report on the benefits of tourist quality infrastructure.

Comments

[John]

Hi Frank,

Wow that hut's massive! We stayed at the old hut about two years ago and it was lovely although a bit chilly (mid May). The new hut just dwarfs the old one.

I realise the need for increasing the capacity at huts but this new hut will have no character in comparison to the old. It's a shame they couldn't have placed the new hut in a different location or may be moved the old one to a less frequented spot - I assume from your post that the old will be disappearing soon.

Oh well, another piece of NZ history gone. Shame.

JB

[Frank]

Hi John
Thanks for your comments. They're right on the button.
The 'musterers section' of the old hut will be taken to Mt Somers station as part of a historic display there.
I don't like to be critical about a new hut when for so long huts were just being removed and not replaced. It's just that sometimes we still seem to be losing something valuable. I don't know...

[Andrew]

I like big new huts. I also like little old huts like the Gouland Downs hut. So long as the hut fits in with its surrounds and doesn't look like some big monstrosity like the Routeburn Falls hut I don't mind.

[Frank]

Thanks Andrew. Yes, Routeburn Falls is a a bit over the top eh? Some bigger huts are ok. Salisbury Lodge is a good one, and just about any of the huts on the North West circuit Stewart Island are pretty good. Mind you I don't know of any of them go much over 20 bunks. Maybe that's my comfort limit. Any more than that and it starts of feel like a hostel.

[Gareth]

Yes, I agree, Routeburn Falls is a big hut when you've got it all to yourself. As far as other monstrosities go, how about Luxmore hut on the Kepler. That definitely doesn't fit in with the natural surroundings. As for Mt Somers I would now rather use one of the 2 rock bivs close by.

[Frank]

It's interesting to read the comments. I think the old hut was fantastic. It would seem that DOC has earmarked Mt Somers Walkway as an entry level tramping track hence the hut & bridge upgrade. Looking at it this way, then the new hut is perfect for the new purpose. I can see families finding it a great attraction. There are many fantastic camping spot for us "purists" when the hut gets too busy / noisy.