remotehuts.co.nz
MID & TOP
Robinson Huts
WRITTEN BY ~ANDREW BUGLASSThe Mid & Top Robinson huts aren’t
Permolat projects, nor are they particularly
remote, but they certainly deserve a
mention from an outdoors perspective
The Robinson valley is under-rated as a destination in my view, getting
fairly low visitation levels despite its relative ease of access. It has
something to offer hunters, trampers and anglers alike, and the two huts in
the valley are DoC maintained and in excellent condition currently.The mid hut has six bunks, the top eight,
and both have efficient woodburners
and a good wood supply in the adjoining
forest. DoC staff from Greymouth were in
the valley earlier this year doing a bit of
trackwork and hut maintenance.The Robinson valley is accessed from the
end of Palmers Road which branches
off from SH7, three kilometres west of
Springs Junction. There are 18 kilometres
of reasonably good gravel road with a
number of small fords that shouldn’t be aproblem for 2WD vehicles in dry weather.
The Robinson is a mostly gentle
valley with beautiful red beech forest
and numerous open grassy flats in
its lower reaches. The forest is relatively
open and where the terrain steepens
in the upper valley and becomes a bit
rougher, moss-draped silver beech
takes over as the dominant canopy tree.
The river runs east-west for most of its
length and as a consequence the valley
floor gets little or no sun for a couple of
months in winter. During the long fine
periods, common around this time, the
hoar frost extends its magic carpet of ice
crystals right up into the forest canopy.
Both huts are shadow-bound for a period
and arriving at them on such a day is like
entering a meat chiller, initially at least,Mid Robinson Hut
Photo: Brent Smith68How
remotehuts.co.nz^ To
MID & TOP
Robinson Huts
WRITTEN BY ~ANDREW BUGLASSThe Mid & Top Robinson huts aren’t
Permolat projects, nor are they particularly
remote, but they certainly deserve a
mention from an outdoors perspective
The Robinson valley is under-rated as a destination in my view, getting
fairly low visitation levels despite its relative ease of access. It has
something to offer hunters, trampers and anglers alike, and the two huts in
the valley are DoC maintained and in excellent condition currently.The mid hut has six bunks, the top eight,
and both have efficient woodburners
and a good wood supply in the adjoining
forest. DoC staff from Greymouth were in
the valley earlier this year doing a bit of
trackwork and hut maintenance.The Robinson valley is accessed from the
end of Palmers Road which branches
off from SH7, three kilometres west of
Springs Junction. There are 18 kilometres
of reasonably good gravel road with a
number of small fords that shouldn’t be aproblem for 2WD vehicles in dry weather.
The Robinson is a mostly gentle
valley with beautiful red beech forest
and numerous open grassy flats in
its lower reaches. The forest is relatively
open and where the terrain steepens
in the upper valley and becomes a bit
rougher, moss-draped silver beech
takes over as the dominant canopy tree.
The river runs east-west for most of its
length and as a consequence the valley
floor gets little or no sun for a couple of
months in winter. During the long fine
periods, common around this time, the
hoar frost extends its magic carpet of ice
crystals right up into the forest canopy.
Both huts are shadow-bound for a period
and arriving at them on such a day is like
entering a meat chiller, initially at least,MidRobinsonHut
Photo: Brent Smith
68How
To