French Ridge Hut
Matukituki Valley area • Otago
Alerts
Avalanche NZ
Check Avalanche NZ for the full avalanche forecast before you go.
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NIWA weather risks
NIWA's Parks Weather site lists daily weather risks for the forecast point below.
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Forecast point: Mt Aspiring/Tititea (3033m) · 5.7km away
Check the DOC website for current alerts and conditions before you go. This site gets current alert info from DOC, but is not an official source of information.
- About
- This is an alpine serviced 20-bunk hut in the Wanaka/Makarora area. This hut is an NZ Alpine Club hut.
- Facilities
- Mattresses
- Lighting
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
- Water supply
About this hut
French Ridge Hut is located near the end of the tussock, just below the snow line. It has excellent views across Gloomy Gorge to Rob Roy and the west face of Avalanche. To the north-west the view sweeps around Hector Col, Mts Barff, Liverpool, Cascade Saddle and beyond.
It is an ovenight stop for ascents of Mount Aspiring.
Information about French Ridge Hut on NZ Alpine Club website.
You'll need to take:
- sleeping bag
- stove and fuel
- pots/pans and utensils
- toilet paper
- rubbish bag (to pack out all rubbish, including food scraps)
- torch.
Fees and bookings
Fees
- Adult non-members (18+ years): $30
- New Zealand Alpine Club member: $20
- Youth non-members (11–17 years): $15
- Child/Infant (0–10 years): free
Backcountry Hut Passes and Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.
Bookings
Pay when you book online. Bookings are required all year.
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.
- If no availability shows online for your dates, the hut is fully booked.
- No spaces are kept for visitors arriving without a booking.
- Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee.
- Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain.
A $10 service fee applies to all phone, email and in-person bookings. New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) members applying for their discount will not be charged this fee.
Getting there
Approximate time from nearest road end and hut
- Raspberry Creek car park (Wanaka Mt Aspiring Road) via West Matukituki track to Pearl Flat and French Ridge Track: 6–7 hr 30 min (16.2 km)
- From Aspiring Hut via West Matukituki to Pearl Flat and French Ridge Track: 4–5 hr (7.2 km)
Tracks to this hut
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: CA11
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1257248, N5071498
Know before you go
Large group bookings
A single group can only book up to 50% of the hut – 10 beds.
If you are a group of 10 people, you need to fill in a large group notification form as well as making your online booking. Contact wanakavc@doc.govt.nz at least two weeks before your departure date to ask for the form. The form is not a booking.
Radio communications
From October to the end of April, there will be a hut ranger present at Aspiring Hut. They will call French Ridge on the radio each evening between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm to provide an up-to-date weather forecast. The radio and instructions for use can be found in the kitchen/dining room.
Nearby
Weather
Forecast at the hut