Dillon Huts

Taipo River to Dillon Huts

Today’s mission was a spontaneous, midwinter girls’ trip up the Taipo River Track on the West Coast to bag the Dillon huts. It was a relatively easy walk around 8.5 km each way which took us 2 hours 10 mins one way (DOC time 2-3 hours). We were rewarded with the historic Dillons Homestead hut and the modern Dillon hut.

Most people I imagine walk the Taipo River Track as part of a longer tramp. It is the start of the Harman Pass Route from the SH73 along the Taramakau River to the Waimakariri River. It also offers the option to get up to the Kelly Range (check out the link of a recent walk to Carroll Hut which was beautiful). If I’m honest, I wouldn’t put this up there with my favourite walks. It was fine, but most of is a 4WD track, there’s plenty of gorse, and when we walked (Aug ’23) there was a mining operation going on just before Seven Mile Creek which was awful.

Getting There Dillon Huts 

It took us about 50 minutes to drive from Hokitika to the Taipo River along the SH73. There was decent signage on the SH73 and we swung right onto a gravel track and into the car park. There were already a couple of cars in the car park. (Note there wasn’t a toilet at the car park).

Taipo Track to Dillon Huts

Di and I set off up the 4WD track at 8.10 am. The first couple of kilometres led us up over and down a small hill before arriving beside the Taipo River. We’d had a bit of rain in the days before we walked and the track was quite wet, and slippery in a few places. Walking at a decent pace meant that it didn’t take long before I took my warm layers off – it took Di a while longer to defrost.

We met the occupants of the other cars on the downhill – a friendly assortment of hunters. About forty minutes from the car park at 8.50 am we were beside the river and enjoying the views up the Taipo and the mountains beyond.

Along the Taipo River

There were a few side creeks to cross. They were nothing substantial when we walked, but can become impassable in heavy rain. About twenty minutes later at around 9.15 am, we came to the first wet boot river crossing.

We followed the 4WD track from here, however, according to this great post by the Wild Things trail runners if the river is too high to cross you can look out for trail markers just before the river which takes you up into the bush avoiding a crossing.

At one point we wondered whether we should have followed the track and headed down to the river braid again. We needn’t have bothered as we met the 4WD track a little while later, where it crossed back over the river to the true right.

The final few kilometres continued along the flat 4WD track. About a kilometre from Seven Mile Creek, a detour was in place through a mining site. This was the first time I’d walked through a site like this with earthworks numerous diggers and ponds etc. and I was pretty shocked at the state of it.

Seven Mile Creek

At around 10.15 am, we reached Seven Mile Creek. I’d read accounts of how quickly it becomes impassable in bad weather, but it was looking good today. We found a spot and crossed easily as a pair, for the ease of my balance rather than because of the swift water.

Dillon Hut

From the creek we walked past the homestead and on to the more modern 10-bed Dillon Hut, arriving at 10.20 am – two hours and ten minutes after setting off. Given it was mid-winter it felt pretty cold and damp, but it did have a fireplace. We used the loo and headed back to the homestead.

Dillons Homestead Hut

Dillons Homestead hut is a beauty. As the name suggests it was once a homestead before becoming a charming tramping hut. Note the DOC website reads 10 bunks, but it only has 5 beds. Unfortunately, my photos of the interior didn’t capture the character or essence of it, but you’ll find plenty in your other research. Check out a potted history on the Hut Bagger website.

Heading Back

We made a bit of a rookie mistake and left the chilly hut to have lunch in the sun at the creek. The trouble is, that’s where all the sandflies were too. We made it a rather hurried affair before crossing Seven Mile Creek and heading back.

The journey back was fairly uneventful apart from Di pulling a random leg muscle which made things pretty uncomfortable for her. We walked the last part of the track with the hunters from this morning who I think couldn’t quite believe we’d walked in and out in such a short time. We enjoyed a chat with them before going our separate ways and I completely forgot to record the time we got back to the car.

Click the links below for nearby walks on the Coast and Arthur’s Pass:

• Carroll Hut, Otira – day walk 
• Bealey Spur Track – half-day walk 
• Woolshed Hill Track – half-day walk 
• Camp Stream Mt Alexander – 2 nights 3 days 
• Mount Brown Hut – overnight 
• Cedar Flat, Adventure Biv – overnight 
• Casey, Poulter, Binser loop Arthur’s Pass – 4 nights 5 days