Canterbury University Tramping Club (CUTC) has its very own hut nestled among the 2000m-high peaks of Arthur’s Pass. The Avoca Hut is one of the most remote in the region, and is located at the head of the Avoca River.

The cosy cabin has a fire-heated cast-iron bathtub and an outdoor grill, offering alfresco living and dining for visitors.

It’s a six-bunk A-frame hut, orginally built in 1947 in an effort ‘to return the continuous courtesy of other alpine clubs in New Zealand’. 

Initial funding came from an anonymous donation of £4, which then represented the average weekly wage. A few years later, with £25 obtained from the student association and a £10 grant from the Department of Internal Affairs, the club’s engineering students drafted a plan for the building. 

Wood and corrugated iron were sourced, and club members built the bivvy.

CUTC 2024 president Nick Slegers said he is “endlessly impressed” that a university tramping club, with a high leadership turnover due to degree study length, has successfully maintained the club for decades.

“The fact that this hut is still standing after more than 75 years of nature’s abuse is testament to the outstanding efforts of the club members who designed, built and maintained it over the years,” Slegers said.

Various work parties have helped with upkeep, including installing a concrete floor, new tables and internal lining. The hut was repainted in 2007, and a major overhaul in 2016–17 included the replacement of doors, skylights and guttering.

Visit cutc.nz for information on hut access.