The Heather Jock hut is just one of a few amazing huts you can stay in this glorious area.  It is one of multiple hiking trails that start at the Whakaari Conservation Area carpark, which you get to by turning right just before you get to Glenorchy from Queenstown. (Soon I will post about the McIntosh loop track, and the huts along that route. )

The DOC site says it takes 2-3 hours to get there from the carpark, and it took me and Nick maybe 2 hours. The climb around mount Judah (pictured above to the left), and the switchbacks that follow, felt very steep with an overnight pack. However, the views were gorgeous and I couldn’t believe how adorable this basic, free-of-charge hut was! It was complete with mattresses, water from a tank, and a drop toilet not too far away.

Alas, we had dwardled a bit and we had a plan to see if we could get up Mount Alaska. I had read a blog previously, saying that the route was a pretty direct path up the ridgeline, and that it was steep, but relatively clear to see and ‘worth it’ for the views. However, from what me and Nick could see, the ridge did not look like a ‘straight-forward’ path, and instead, we were lured by the snow covered switch-backs we could see, further along. It looked like a more obvious and easy way to the top.

The path was sometimes a pretty sketchy slope of scree. It seemed pretty straightforward, until we were faced with this.

So, we decided to turn right, and straight up.

The walking trail became more similar to rock climbing, but the views were unbelievable.

The sun was getting low as it was getting towards 4pm. We resolved that we had seen some awesome views and weren’t quite prepared to scramble up to the top of Mount Alaska, so we headed back down the Heather Jock.

 

And boy, it was a sight for sore eyes! No one else had arrived at the tiny 3-bed hut, and it was all ours for the remainder of the warm, sunny evening.

Honest photo-bomb.

The clear sky meant that the stars were going to be amazing. After dinner, dessert, chasing Possums away and having our own little dance party, the stars started to come out.

Oh, and Nick showed me his best impression of a worker in the Red Light District.

After a frosty night, the sun-rose in tones of pastel pink.

We went back down a different way – the way that leads to the Bonnie Jean hut (day use only, no bunks or facilities).

The way down took maybe less than 2 hours. Another gorgeous overnighter for anyone in Queenstown needing a bit of wilderness.