BALLOON HUT

Kahurangi National Park, Nelson – February 2023

balloon hut, kahurangi national park

​Kahurangi’s Tableland has long been a place that enchants people with its rolling tussock landscapes studded with pockets of beech forest. Balloon Hut lies on the edge of one such beech enclave. The first hut here was an old miner’s one, built in 1909, which was replaced in 1963 with the existing hut. In 1995 the Waimea Tramping Club renovated the hut in preparation for the opening of Kahurangi National Park the following year. The club own and maintain the facility with the help of DOC.
 
Balloon Hut recently got some much-needed attention, thanks to some funding from the Kaimahi (Jobs) for Nature budget. The work was orchestrated by the Backcountry Trust.

lifting materials into Balloon Hut

​BCT manager Rob Brown reports: ‘Last year, DOC Motueka contacted the Trust, and asked if we could find some funds in our Jobs for Nature budget to replace the 60-year-old roof, which was leaking.’

The original roof underlay had failed

‘We had some leeway in the budget, so Ollie Clifton stitched together a team including Nick Cradock, Al Ritchie and myself. At the last moment, Canterbury tramper and photographer Nick Groves volunteered to take part; with the weather looking so good, he couldn't quite think of anything better to do. Our aim was to see if we could possibly keep up with Al's incredible rate of work!'

Removing the old roof on day 1

​‘Phil Brooks and the two Matts at DOC Motueka provided great support. They got all the materials to the load zone and by managing all that for us, made our job much more efficient. Over three days, the job of installing the new roof went smoothly.’

installing new rafters

new roof going on

nick groves sanding the floor

the newly oiled floor

​Working at the hut also provided an opportunity to reflect on that day back in 1996, when Kahurangi National Park became the country’s second largest national park. The ministerial party, including then Prime Minister Jim Bolger, flew in for the opening at Balloon Hut as part of the celebrations. Afterwards, they walked across the Tablelands out to Flora Hut. Conservationist and tramper Andy Dennis, one of the strongest advocates for the new park, walked with the P.M. No doubt Andy seized the opportunity to provide a small lecture on all the wonders of Kahurangi, why New Zealand needed more marine reserves, what was wrong with section 17U part 3 of the Conservation Act, and many, many other things.

the Tableland with Gordons Pyramid and Mt Arthur beyond

​Balloon Hut is looking really good at 60 years young. And if you are an optimist, it's best days still lie ahead. Another little backcountry gem optimised for the future.

the new roof finished