Sentry Box Hut (Historic)
Ruahine Forest Park • Hawke’s Bay
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Forecast point: Sunrise Hut (1280m) · 16.4km 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
- Sentry Box Hut is a standard 4 bunk hut in the Ruahine Forest Park.
- Facilities
- Heating
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from stream
- Water supply
About this hut
Facilities:
- Water source: River
- Heating source: Open fire
History of the hut
Sentry Box Hut is an historic hut with many of its original features still intact. It was built in April 1959 and is a good example of the wild animal control huts built during the New Zealand Forest Service era.
There have been three huts known as the Sentry Box, all built in close proximity to one another, nestled under the shelter of the limestone cliffs beside the Sentry Box Stream. The first was built in the 1880’s as a site from which a shepherd could keep the wild animals from the nearby station. This is the principal reason for the name Sentry Box Hut and the name was also applied to the nearby stream and peak. In the 1920’s the hut was moved to a warmer site slightly further up Sentry Box stream. It was burnt down in 1945.
The following year a government hunter salvaged the roofing iron and built a rough structure near the original site. This was also known as Sentry Box, but was known by other names as well. By 1958 this structure had fallen to ruin It was replaced in April 1959 by a new four bunk hut built by the NZFS, and retained the name Sentry Box.
Fees and bookings
Fees
- Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
- Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
- Child/Infant (0–4 years): free
Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put these in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that gives unlimited use at most Standard and Serviced huts for a 12 month period.
Booking and paying | Backcountry Hut Tickets | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Getting there
The parking area is 1 hour and fifteen minutes from Napier.
Sentry Box Hut is accessed from Mangleton Road. Follow SH50 to Maraekakaho and turn into Kereru Road. On reaching Kereru, turn onto Big Hill Road. The turnoff to Mangleton Road is on the left. Park at the DOC sign 16.5 km down Mangleton Road. Sentry Box Hut is a 10 minute walk from the parking area.
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BK37
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1881460, N5603865
Nearby
Weather
Forecast at the hut