Triple X Hut/Sunrise Hut weekend stay

"So when are we going to tramp together?" Andy asked over dinner some time in March. "Let's do it in April!" So tramp in April we did. New Zealanders call it "tramping", I grew up calling it "trekking" but we all mean the same thing - fun.

Opening one of the gates on the farm

Triple X car park is located on a private farm. In order to access it, one needs to open 3 gates. Do make sure to close it because this is a private, working farm with sheep running freely. Be respectful, be responsible.

Triple X Hut

A 10 minutes walk from the car park is Triple X hut. A small hut with a wood stove. It has two rooms and each room can sleep up to 8 people. Compared to Sunrise Hut, this is basic...and cold.

Bed bunks in Triple X hut

The next day, we trekked up to Sunrise Hut. It takes an average of 2.5-3 hours to reach the hut, if you walk at a speed of 3.5-4 kmh. There's lots of flora and fauna on the way up.

By the way, you need to purchase hut tickets from the Department of Conservation if you want to stay in these huts.

Enjoying the sun outside Sunrise Hut

View from bed bunk in Sunrise Hut

A short walk from Sunrise Hut is the Armstrong Saddle. We took a stroll to the saddle after lunch. It was very windy and the ridge is moderately exposed.

The ridge walk to Armstrong Saddle

At Armstrong Saddle, there is a description of the history Triple X Hut and the saddle.

Armstrong Saddle

Armstrong Saddle was named after Hamish Armstrong, whose plane crashed on this saddle. Rescuers found the wreckage and a size XXX shirt. Hence, the name Triple X hut. However, Hamish Armstrong was not found. Maybe he did not want to be found...

Sunrise from Sunrise Hut