Mid Taipo Hut & Julia Hut | Three Days Exploring the Beautiful Taipo Valley
Mid Taipo Hut and Julia Hut sit deep within the Taipo Valley, tucked away in one of the West Coasts lesser-known backcountry gems. With historic huts, river flats, swingbridges, two three-wire bridges, natural hot springs and spectacular mountain scenery, this three-day trip offers a little bit of everything.
While neither hut requires significant elevation gain, don’t underestimate this hike. At around 53 kilometres for the return trip, with unbridged side stream crossings, route finding and two three-wire bridge, it still feels like a proper West Coast backcountry adventure.
Trip Overview
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Distance: Approximately 53 km return (plus exploring)
Difficulty: Moderate
Huts: Mid Taipo Hut (6 bunks), Julia Hut (6 bunks)
Suitable for: Experienced trampers comfortable with river crossings, route finding and three-wire bridges
This is the kind of trip that rewards those who enjoy travelling through remote valleys rather than chasing summits. The walking is relatively gentle, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the changing scenery, explore the historic huts and simply soak up the atmosphere of the Taipo Valley.
Getting There
The car park is located off State Highway 73 near the Taipo River bridge.
If travelling west, look for the car park opposite the last farmhouse before crossing the Taipo River bridge.
If travelling east, it is immediately after crossing the Taipo River bridge and passing the first farmhouse.
The start of the track follows a 4WD road that services a working gold mine at Seven Mile Stream.
If you have a capable high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle and suitable off-road driving skills, it is possible to drive part of the route and leave your vehicle at either Dillons Homestead or Dillons Hut. For most hikers, however, walking the entire route makes for an enjoyable first day.
Day One - Walking to Mid Taipo Hut
The first two hours follow the 4WD track towards Seven Mile Stream. The road climbs steadily through regenerating bush before dropping down towards the Taipo Valley, providing occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains.
There are two to three side streams to cross along this section, once the Taipo River is reached. A marked bypass track exists should these streams be running high, but it’s worth remembering that if the smaller streams are difficult to cross, Seven Mile Stream itself is unlikely to be safe.
Seven Mile Stream is unbridged and can change significantly after rainfall. You’ll need to assess the conditions and choose the safest crossing point on the day. If heavy rain has fallen recently, or significant rain is forecast, it’s probably best to postpone your trip.
Dillons Homestead and Dillons Hut
Shortly after crossing Seven Mile Stream you’ll reach Dillons Homestead, the original farmhouse from when the valley was farmed. It’s a fascinating reminder of the area’s history and makes a worthwhile stop.
Just a few minutes further on sits Dillons Hut, a comfortable modern hut featuring:
10 bunks
Log burner
Water tank
Long drop toilet
For anyone wanting a shorter overnight option, Dillons Hut would make an excellent destination in its own right.
Scotties 3-Wire Bridge
Beyond Dillons Hut the character of the track changes considerably. The wide 4WD track gives way to a narrower valley trail as it drops down into the Taipo River.
Another side stream is crossed before Scotties 3-Wire comes into view.
If river levels are low or normal, it’s possible to follow the riverbank to reach the bridge.
When the river is running higher, the flood route climbs steeply over a bluff before descending via a galvanised ladder to the bridge.
Scotties 3-Wire is certainly one of the highlights of the trip. It’s long, narrow and noticeably sways in the middle as you make your way across. If you’ve never crossed a 3-wire bridge before, it can feel intimidating at first, but taking your time and focusing on one step at a time makes it quite manageable.
Once across, the track immediately climbs steeply to the top of another bluff before descending back onto the river flats.
Valley Travel to Mid Taipo Hut
From here, navigation becomes more important.
The valley track isn’t particularly well marked in places and there are sections where you’ll need to pick the most obvious line through the river flats and bush margins. Good route finding skills are essential.
You’ll cross both Dunns Creek and Hura Creek before reaching the hut. Under normal conditions both are straightforward wet-foot crossings, although Hura Creek is usually the deeper of the two.
Marker poles begin appearing near Dunns Creek and lead all the way to Mid Taipo Hut.
The final section through the valley is particularly beautiful, with the Taipo River winding through wide flats surrounded by steep bush-clad hills and distant mountains.
Allow approximately:
3.5 to 4 hours from the car park to Mid Taipo Hut
Distance: approximately 20 km
Mid Taipo Hut Review
Mid Taipo Hut is one of those huts that immediately feels welcoming.
Outside you’ll find:
Long drop toilet
Woodshed
Water tank
Stepping inside, you’re greeted by a small mudroom complete with hooks for hanging wet gear before entering the main hut.
The hut itself features:
Six bunks
Two generous cooking benches
Log burner
Plenty of space for a small group
The Taipo River sits just a short walk from the hut, making it a lovely place to spend the afternoon relaxing beside the water or watching the changing light across the surrounding mountains.
For such a remote location, it’s an incredibly comfortable place to spend a couple of nights.
Day Two - Julia Hut Day Walk
The walk from Mid Taipo Hut to Julia Hut is considerably easier than the previous day’s hike and makes for an excellent day walk.
The track is well marked and easy to follow, with very little elevation gain throughout. It meanders through native bush with occasional openings beside the Taipo River, providing beautiful views back down the valley.
After around 20 minutes you’ll cross the Mid Taipo Swingbridge before continuing along the true right of the river all the way to Julia Hut.
Tumbledown 3-Wire Bridge
Part way along the track you’ll encounter Tumbledown 3-Wire.
Unlike Scotties 3-Wire, this one is much shorter and feels significantly more stable. It’s a fun crossing rather than an intimidating one and provides another memorable feature of the trip.
From here it’s a short climb of around 500 metres to Old Julia Hut before continuing just a couple of minutes further to the newer Julia Hut.
Allow approximately:
2.5 hours each way
6.5 km each way
Historic vs New Julia Hut
One of the unique things about Julia Hut is that both the historic and modern huts still sit close together.
Old Julia Hut
The original hut is full of character and reportedly haunted, adding a little intrigue to your visit.
Facilities include:
Four bunks
Open fireplace
Two small benches
Small water tank
Long drop toilet
The hut feels like stepping back in time and offers a glimpse into what backcountry tramping was once like in this valley.
New Julia Hut
The newer hut couldn’t be more different. Sitting in a large tussock clearing, it enjoys magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and feels surprisingly spacious.
Facilities include:
Six bunks
Large cooking bench
Table with bench seating
Log burner
Outdoor deck
Water tank
Long drop toilet
The deck is perhaps its best feature, providing the perfect spot to sit with a cup of tea and simply admire the scenery.
The Hidden Hot Springs
The Taipo Valley is home to natural hot springs hidden near Julia Hut.
Finding them, however, can be something of an adventure in itself.
To locate them:
Follow the track through the clearing.
Walk past the long drop toilet.
Head down to the river.
Stay on the true left bank.
Walk approximately 80 metres downstream until you reach a large red boulder.
From there, it’s a matter of exploring.
The warm water doesn’t always form an obvious pool and can emerge as small streams flowing through the river gravels. Sometimes you’ll need to feel the ground or test small channels of water with your hand to locate the warmer spots.
Despite spending quite a bit of time searching, I still didn’t manage to find the hot pools on my visit. I’m fairly certain I was only 10 to 20 metres away.
My biggest tip is to read the Julia Hut hut book before you head down to look for them. Previous visitors have left detailed directions that are far more helpful than any map or online description.
Day Three - The Walk Out
The final day simply retraces your steps back down the valley.
You’ll return via:
Hura Creek
Dunns Creek
Scotties 3-Wire
Dillons Hut
Dillons Homestead
Seven Mile Stream
The two-hour 4WD track back to the car park
Although it’s a return journey, I always find valleys look completely different when walking out. The views seem to open up in new ways and familiar landmarks take on a different perspective.
Track Conditions
For the most part, the track is straightforward and enjoyable.
The main challenges are:
Route finding across sections of the valley floor
Unbridged stream crossings
3-wire bridges
Assessing river conditions
Anyone comfortable travelling in New Zealand’s backcountry should find the trip manageable, provided conditions are suitable.
River Crossing Considerations
The biggest factor that will determine whether this trip is enjoyable or not is river conditions.
Do not underestimate how quickly the side streams and Seven Mile Stream can rise after heavy rain.
Before setting out:
Check the weather forecast carefully.
Consider recent rainfall in the area.
Be prepared to change your plans if conditions aren’t suitable.
Remember that rain forecast during your trip may affect your ability to get back out.
There are no bridges across the major side streams, so good judgement is essential.
Final Thoughts
Mid Taipo Hut and Julia Hut quickly became one of my favourite valley trips. There are no alpine passes to conquer or steep climbs to tackle, but that’s precisely what makes this hike so enjoyable.
Instead, it’s all about travelling through a beautiful river valley, crossing 3-wire bridges, exploring historic huts, searching for hidden hot springs and spending time immersed in the backcountry.
If you’re looking for a 3-day adventure that combines history, scenery and a few uniquely New Zealand backcountry experiences, the Taipo Valley delivers all of that in abundance.
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