Built in 1966, the hut has been upgraded with a small covered front veranda & wood shed. Water is from the river 25 metres below the hut. It receives minimal sunshine in winter. Edit Hut
Took me 4h from Te Puke hut and 4h to Tussock Saddle Biv (at good pace). The Mangatainoka River is easy at low flow, with a few log jams post-cyclone but nothing major. The NZ Topo track isn't accurate; the last km is missing. The track starts at the rivers fork on the spur, well-marked by Permolat and DOC all the way.
Accessed from Tussock hut - 5 h. Unmaintained with a bit of snow damage about, but route to Mangatainoka river is well marked with permolats. Travel in the river is quite easy.
Walked on to Te Puke hut via Mangatainoka heads shelter - 6 h. Slow walk up a log-jammed stream, then a short steep climb up the spur onto Te Puke tops with a little bush bashing.