The Waitawheta Valley was the site of extensive logging of the Kauri Forests in the 19th and early 20th century. As a result of this logging the Kauri Forests have gone and it will be about 1000 years before we have the mature Kauri Forest back again.
The brand new Waitawheta Hut is built on the site of an old sawmill and the track to it along Franklin Rd follows the old tram line that was used to transport the timber out of the area. There are many relics of the logging area around the place.
It is an easy 3 hour walk to the hut from Franklin Rd with 6 river crossings that aren't a problem in normal conditions.
For this trip we went in from Woodlands Rd up the Waitengaue Stream which, though well marked, was a little more challenging. The old Waitengaue Hut was burnt down some years ago and only a campsite remains there.