The Best Beginner Tramp In New Zealand - Tramp To Upper Gridiron Hut

Kev is joined by his wife Sandy for an easy overnight tramp to the Upper Gridiron Hut in Kahurangi National Park. This is a great walk if you are new to tramping, have young children or just don't want to walk too far. The track is along a 4WD track with very gentle gradients and will take about 2 hours to complete (each way). There are a couple of options to stay the best of which are either the Upper Gridiron Hut which is built into the side of a rock or the Lower Gridiron Rock Shelter, which has more of a Robinson Crusoe feel about it with its ladder up to the sleeping platform that contains 4 mattresses.
There are lots of Weka that hang around the huts, plenty of Powelliphanta snail shells if you keep an eye out and a couple of swing bridges.
Access is via a long gravel road up a fairly steep hill. In dry weather this does not need a 4WD, but take it slowly as it can be a bit bumpy
Find more information about this hut on the DOC website www.doc.govt.n...
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[@graemehelleur1627]

Took my grandson there last summer. Sleeping out on the swing chair is the way to go. Great dawn chorus. Thanks for that Kev.

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

That sounds like a fantastic tramp with your grandson Graeme.

[@graemehelleur1627]

@@samandkevsoutdooradventures He loves the Kahurangi. Every time he comes to stay, the first thing he asks is can we stay in a hut Popa? Next fine day, we're packed and into the Kahurangi.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Awesome Kev.
Those shelters are wicked cool! I can see why it is so popular. Beautiful area.
Cheers man.

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Backcountry Kiwi. Kahurangi NP is by far my favorite Natuonal Park. So much variety.

[@ReviloNZwalks]

Those are some amazing shelters. Looks like a great place to explore. Cheers

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Yes they are amazing. There is also another one an hour or two further along the track called Dry Rock Shelter tramping.net.nz/huts-kahurangi/dry-rock-shelter-kahurangi-national-park

[@pickle_a_day_keeps_the_dr_away]

Great video, well edited, and another walk I'll have to tick off in the near future.
Keep up the great work 👍

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks, Matt. It's a nice easy walk, and you can easily go to the hut and back in an afternoon if you wish.

[@Longtack55]

Good work Kev. I note the abundant bird song, courtesy of Friends of Flora's conservation efforts, hopefully.
Po-well-i-phan-ta snail shells may still have eggs in them, so that's why we leave them in the bush or so I've been told by DOC.

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Friends of Flora have done a fantastic job. All areas where a dedicated trapping program shows a noticeable improvement in bird life , the Hawdon Valley in Arthur's Pass is another great example of volunteer trapping work. Didn't realise about the eggs in the Powelliphanta shells.

[@Longtack55]

@@samandkevsoutdooradventures My pal Gerald Bruce-Smith, who now volunteers for FOF in Kahurangi N.P. initiated some of the traplines in APNP.
The positive anecdotal support we receive from the public (you) is very motivational but our average age is 70 so we're always keen to recruit.

[@mountainmantararua8824]

Kev, it warms my heart to hear you say 'Tramping', so many people now say 'Hiking' sad to see our tramping culture changing. Cheers

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Mountainman. I'll admit I have flirted with using the term "hiking" in the past but it never really felt right, so returned to the tried and trusted "tramping".

[@Longtack55]

With you on that Mountainman!

[@mountainmantararua8824]

@@Longtack55 👍👍

[@BCHiker]

Another quality video Kev. Thanks for sharing. Now on my bucket (hut bagging) list!

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Curtis

[@steezykiwi]

Thats bloody amazing. thanks for sharing!!

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Steezy Kiwi. It's a wee ripper of a hut.

[@mattdownernz]

Tomorrow for me. Looks great

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Enjoy

[@georgiataylor7737]

Great video! Maybe I’ll have to try go myself! 😁

[@georgiataylor7737]

Especially loved the snails & wekas!!

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Georgia. It's a great tramp to get started on.

[@callumjohnson8417]

Cheers for the cool vidoe man

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Callum

[@callumjohnson8417]

@@samandkevsoutdooradventures thats ok i gues i could say im a beginner tramper and i really enjoy watching videos like these

[@hobbithikingnz8321]

I loved that, thank you! Can't wait to get there. How did you find the road in to the carpark? Those weka are cheeky little guys! 😊

[@samandkevsoutdooradventures]

Thanks Hobbit Hiking. The road to the car park is steep, gravel and has a few pot holes. However we didn't have any issues. We went in dry weather in a 2wd SUV - just took it nice and slow. I love Weka, they are great fun to watch.