Trampers in Mt Richmond Forest Park, in the eastern ranges of Nelson-Tasman, will be staying in a freshly painted and refreshed Hunter’s Hut thanks to the efforts of Whakatū Rotary over Anzac weekend.
The club partnered with Dulux Group and the Department of Conservation to carry out maintenance work on Hunter’s, an eight-bunk backcountry hut located on the well-travelled Te Araroa Trail.
A Whakatū Rotary team of members and friends was flown to the remote site by helicopter—an efficient way to transport paint and equipment, with the added bonus of some spectacular views of the surrounding ranges.
Over two days, the team scraped and cleaned both the exterior and interior of the tired-looking hut, before applying multiple coats of paint in the DOC colour scheme.
Alongside plenty of banter, good food, and time in the great outdoors, the team successfully refreshed the hut, helping ensure it will continue to serve backcountry users for years to come.
A big thank you to Dulux New Zealand for generously supplying the paint, and to the Department of Conservation for its support and collaboration in making this project a success. What a great way to have impact in our beautiful New Zealand backcountry.
