Buckland Peaks Overnight
A Kiwi hut above the clouds
Rocky ridgelines and sub-alpine terrain in the fascinating Paparoa Range. Nestled in a place far from a busy, noisy world, this hut sits high up and will get you away from it all. Sound like you?
Spend a night in the Buckland Peaks Hut and explore a hidden gem on this rewarding West Coast hike. The marked track will lead you past native bush and granite bumps, offering spectacular, 360-degree views on top. Enjoy the sub-alpine surroundings while passing rock formations, unique vegetation, mountain tarns and a new DOC hut along the way.
If you’re travelling through the West Coast and want something that doesn’t take up too much time, but still gets you deep into our backcountry, this might just be the best overnighter you could pick here.
Like our West Coast poet Peter Hopper once put it:
“Set between sky-popping peaks of the alps and the vast emptiness of the western seas are forests and lakes, rivers and seashores…”
We’ve got a bit of everything here on the West Coast and you can see it all from the top of Buckland Peaks!
Drew
As a born and bred West Coaster, the bush is in my blood! I love showing off my beautiful Kāinga Tupu (homeland) and all it has to offer. I'm always exploring new places with my best mate Skadi, the white shepherd. My love for exploring the great outdoors is what drove me to leave my hectic day job and create a life that allowed me to get outside more. I'm a big fan of essential living, enjoying the simple things and staying away from material goods; you can get the benefits from all that out in the bush. If you hike with me, we'll visit some spots literally off the beaten track. The beaches on my Instagram are a prime example. I look forward to showing you the Coast!
Experience
- Knows the Coast and the "Coasters" like the back of his hand.
- Good knowledge of survival manuals and outdoor techniques.
- Has a “pretty mean beard”.
- Has lived abroad for 17 years.
- Basic First Aid Certificate.
Views across the island, rare wildlife and native bush
Buckland Peaks track starts not far from Westport with an easy stroll over farmland and past mānuka shrub. We’ll have time to warm up our legs before the start of a steady uphill climb following a ridge. This will last for most of the hike. Best to pack some energy-rich snacks to keep you motivated – we can also take breaks on the way though.
Once we’ve reached the bush line, the views open up and we can even see the hut in the distance. We’ll claim our bunk beds, enjoy lunch and can either relax at the hut or continue up to Buckland Peaks.
It’s definitely worth the extra effort and you’ll have views in every direction from up there. Next to the Paparoa Range and coastline, you can even spot Mt Cook on very clear days.
As a born and bred West Coaster, I know this area well and can show you nearby hikes we can see from up here and fill you in on the history of the region. There’s also a lot of unique vegetation and wildlife local to the area, like some rare bird species and the rare giant mole wētā that’s only found in the Paparoa Range – he’ll see you before you see him!
Gear
All tours require the proper gear to ensure you’re having the time of your life, and are well prepared if things go south. It’s the real and rugged New Zealand out there!
Required
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Cutlery, bowl & cup
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Hand Sanitiser
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Hiking Boots
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Hiking Pack
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Hiking Pants
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Hiking Socks
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Knife
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Lighter / Matches
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Pack Cover / Liner
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Rain Jacket
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Sleeping Bag
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Sunscreen & hat
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Toiletries & Underwear
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Top & Bottom Base layer
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Torch & Batteries
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Warm hat & gloves (March to October)
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Warm hiking layer
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Whistle
Optional
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Bivvy Bag
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Cooker & gas/fuel
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Insect Repellent
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Personal First Aid Kit
Extras
There are add-on extras for this tour. These are the little things that’ll either make your Adventure easier to organise or more rugged - your choice. You can add these during the booking process.
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Bushdog Skadi joins us
What would a hike be without a Bushdog? I can ask Skadi, my loyal “white wolf” (white German shepherd), to join us on this trip. She’s always up for an adventure and loves pats. A Bushdog makes all hikes twice as good.
Free -
Side trip to Buckland Peaks
Once we’ve reached the hut, we can either relax there or continue to the nearby Buckland Peaks at 1,325M. The climb is well worth it with views over the South Island and stunning, sub-alpine terrain on top. We can decide this on the day, depending on weather conditions and fitness levels.
Free
Q & A
Your Bushman has added a couple of answers to questions other Visitors have asked in the past to help you with your booking plans. Once you book a tour, you'll be in direct contact with your Bushman for more support.
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What kind of clothes should I wear?
I always recommend taking breathable layers, so you can adjust to the temperature. For the hike, it’s good to have a light base layer, a warm hoodie or jacket, hiking pants and a rain jacket - it rains a lot around here! Have a look at our minimum requirements if you’re unsure. During the night, thermals are your best friends.
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Is this suitable for families?
It is. If your family has prior backcountry experience and can handle hills. Also, keep in mind, the hut has no fire and can get quite cold, which might be a problem with younger kids (or not if you all don't mind sharing a bunk). But if they are up for a typical backcountry trip, I’m sure they’ll enjoy this!
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Is Skadi good with kids?
Absolutely, she’s used to children and well-trained. Apart from cuddles, she’s also great at keeping us motivated during the climb, running up and down the track to see what’s taking us so long and checking with what's ahead.
FAQs
Here’s a few answers to the more general questions about the whole journey. You can visit our help and support area for any further information or contact us via the chat function.
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What is the refund and cancellation policy?
Bushman Tours sets a standard cancellation policy that can be found via our Terms & Conditions. This is globally set at 48 hours notice. However, Bushmen may add to this depending on the requirements for the Adventure (e.g. - hiring gear and renting equipment on your behalf). The final policy will be located at the bottom of the checkout, or you can reach out to us to check.
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What happens if the tour is cancelled due to weather?
In most cases, the Bushman can arrange another day to run your tour, but this also comes down to when you're available if travelling through New Zealand. We recommend ensuring you have insurance for cancellation of any tours. If the Bushman has to cancel due to a health risk, we will call you to arrange another option.
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What gear do I need?
Although we have a minimum requirement of gear, you will need the right equipment and gear that is relevant to the Adventure you're booking. This is usually found at the bottom of each tour page, but for our minimum, please visit our FAQs & blog page.
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Can I hire gear/equipment?
In some circumstances, your Bushman will have equipment for you to hire. This is available to browse and book through the checkout. We may also have options through our checkout. Although you may be able to borrow gear during the tour, it's important to reserve it now.
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What food shall I bring?
Depending on the length, this can vary. Your Bushman will advise on the tour page what is recommended for this particular Adventure, but typically, what we offer at checkout via the add-ons section is what you'll need. Keep it lightweight and nutritious if you buy your own.
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Where do I meet my Bushman?
We always try to pick the closest iSite (Visitor Centre) to your Adventure's location. Instructions on precisely where to meet are sent after the booking is made. However, you can also message your Bushman and arrange another location as long as it's close enough to the region.
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How much extra is it to add family/friends onto the booking?
If you book and find that more people want to come with you, we can arrange to add them onto the booking (this is dependant on the Bushman's preference to the number of people to take out). The more that book on the original checkout option, the cheaper the fee for each individual - so spread the word before you go to book! Please note, you cannot add or bring extra people 48 hours before the tour starts.
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Can I talk to my Bushman before the Adventure?
Absolutely! Once you book, you will be able to login and chat directly to your Bushman through a private, secure chat. Here you can arrange some extras you would like to do, timings for pick up and much more.
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Need more help?
In the area
Got a some spare days or need more inspiration? Check out similar Adventures in this region you can book with this one.
