Thread: Cascade Hut, Kaimanawas

Hey guys, thinking about heading to cascade hut this weekend for a bit of a nosey. Probably camp at road end friday night and wonder in saturday morning. Thinking it should take 5ish hours?

Any general advice?

I see the hunting boundary is right there so can only hunt east from the hut.

Been pretty wet to with more rain to come so is there any tricky river sections by the hut?

Been years since I was there but you can get to the hut without crossing any rivers from memory. One small creek just before the hut. Up and down the track on the ridge is a bit of a grunt.

As Rumpy said a bit of a grunt.
Years ago a mate and I were walking out, had wandered in and out on a day hunt.
We had stopped just before the top on the way out and taken a spell.
We had put our swannies on when we cooled down and had just started walking again.
We met two guys walking in and yarned to them and then carried on.
As we carried on overheard one say to the other "f--K look at them wearing swannies and not even sweaty must be fit as...".
Had a laugh over that for awhile.
I think they have done some work on the hut.

Bloody hell either nobody goes there cos the hunting is shite or everybody's staying tight lipped about there best spot ��

@Bobba It's a bit of grunt, haven't been there for years. Nothing to cross that's going to be issue. If you're insistent on going there phone helisika and ask if any ones booked to be dropped in. You'll be walking past and through some excellent country on your way. If it's just for a weekend, this is what I used to do. Park at or near the road end. walk up valley and flycamp. Hunt back towards and parallel to Clements Mill road. Work your up the main ridge looking for fresh sign. When you find it stay at that elevation. used to be productive. Good luck

Pop over into the head of the Kaipo.

Thanks for the input guys. Never been into this area before so it's more of a go and see the lay of the land sort a trip. Weather was looking bad hence why I was keen on a hut but this seems to improving so will make a call later in the week to camp out or not. Wet dog in a tent is no fun.

Good advice on giving helisika a call.

If weather sorts itself out there is a nice camp spot at the base of the main ridge by the stream,can’t miss it and good hunting all around depending on which way the wind is blowing,she’s a fair grunt up and over to the hut along the main ridge so don’t leave it too late in the afternoon if you plan on staying at the hut.

The weather is looking okay for the weekend so far, then wet again next week.
I'm planning to go hunting for a night or two this weekend, hoping the deer will be active after a week of rain.

If it is just for the weekend,it is a lot of track walking for not much hunting.
It would be worth while if you were staying two nights at the hut at least.
I was there last summer and saw a few trouts as well.
The hut is nice and comfortable.

Originally Posted by The bomb

If weather sorts itself out there is a nice camp spot at the base of the main ridge by the stream,can’t miss it and good hunting all around depending on which way the wind is blowing,she’s a fair grunt up and over to the hut along the main ridge so don’t leave it too late in the afternoon if you plan on staying at the hut.

Just don't leave any food in your pack as the rats chew a hole in it to get to the food.

I was up towards the Cascade yesterday. The rivers are quite dirty and visibility was rubbish.
Update, please.

I was in a there a couple of years ago, heaps of good country before the main ascent going in. there are a lot of well established campsites along the track if the hut is too far away.
i did see good numbers of deer to the south east of the hut (there was track markers heading up the hill) along the linked high points to Waiatupuritia saddle, it's a big day if you do the loop but pretty interesting.

Had a great trip into cascade hut.
Didn't manage to get down there till Saturday morning so a bit of a late start leaving the road end at 11am. Beautiful bush on the way in and great weather with some great views from the top. Had one set of boot prints on the track so knew someone was ahead of me and arrived to the fire already going. Quick nosey down the river flats on dark to only find lots of old sign. Woke up to well below minus temps so was glad to be in the hut. Headed up to the kaipo saddle the next day and found plenty of fresh sign and almost got on to one but it got the better of me. I blame the dog. Back to the hut for a warm up and another couple arrived, got yakking and before I knew it was dark and then another couple turned up. So it was full hut with plenty of good yarns. Woke to rain so packed up and got out of there before the others so I could hunt my way out. Bit of a wet and chilly walk out with nothing seen but overall still had a great time. Will be heading back again soon hopefully.

When walking in next time walk up to the high point and then take the ridge which goes over towards the kaipo valley, halfway along the ridge is an established campsite.

Good on you for walking out early as I have bumped into deer on the track even shooting a nice 6 point stag some years back. It's a bit of a walk into the hut but as you've seen there's some awesome country in there.

It's a shame "Stanfeild Whare" no longer exists but the river reclaimed it.

@Friwi... are you sure you saw trout in the Kaipo as there's a 50 metre waterfall some distance down river where trout could never get up past it!