Popular hut gets a spruce-up

A hut high in the mountains near Glenorchy has got a lick of paint and a tidy-up by members of Queenstown's Czech and Slovak Club.

Vladka Kennett, of Glenorchy, said she and Pavel Hornik, Pavel Rujzl and Adela Prochazkova spent last Sunday cleaning, scraping and painting the Heather Jock Hut in the Whakaari Conservation Area.

Mrs Kennett said the "gem" hut was popular because of its outstanding views, and the only one in the area where walkers could stay overnight.

But it had needed some "love and care", and the club had decided to help the Department of Conservation maintain the huts in the park.

"It's a nice activity for us, because you take ownership and keep it for the next generation.

"It's also an important part of local history."

The three-bunk hut, a three-to four-hour walk from a car park off Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd, was built in the 1930s. It sits about 1300m above sea level east in the Richardson Mountains.

Mrs Kennett said they were fortunate to be flown with all their equipment free by Heli Glenorchy.