Balloon Hut woodshed and burner

Balloon Hut on the Tablelands

In 1995, the Waimea Tramping Club adopted Balloon Hut, and has done a fabulous job of raising funds and maintaining the hut since. In a proposal for Round 2, which continued their involvement in the care of Balloon Hut, they applied for funding to go towards the installation of a wood burner, and the build of a woodshed. ​

In a joint effort with DoC Motueka, the volunteers from the club managed to nearly complete the woodshed in two days of fine weather, until they were delayed by some rain on the third day, which was then followed by cloud and mist on the fourth day, meaning that the flight they were expecting that day was cancelled. The fifth day cleared and allowed for work on both the woodshed and wood burner to be completed, and a flight out from the hut for those who were there and expecting to be walking out. ​

​All up the additions took about 133 hours to complete, and their hard work means that Balloon Hut is now a cozy, wood fire heated place to rest, dry off, and warm up.