Mt Brown Hut, Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve
Given a sparkling Westland winter day and the option of a panoramic perch high on a snowy ridge, what better place to take in the vantage than Mt Brown Hut on the western edge of the Newton Range.
A well-marked track leads through the forest from Lake Kaniere to reach sub-alpine scrub and then the tussock zone.
When we went, there had been heavy snowfall and progress was tedious and chilling. Every so often, though, a ‘window’ popped out of the forest cover to reveal the magnitude of the view we were climbing to reach. Eventually, at the bush edge, things became a little easier.
Mt Brown Hut is the authoritative viewpoint for this section of Westland and stands just back from the ridge so that it overlooks lake, bush, ridges and sea.
The winter sunset spectacle, when viewed from the lofty vantage of Mt Brown itself, can be beautiful with rosette tones melting into indigo and deep shadow.
Support Wilderness
Since 1991, Wilderness has had one simple goal: to help Kiwis ‘See more, do more, live more’ of New Zealand.
If you value our mission, please consider subscribing. As a loyal supporter, you’ll receive these benefits:
- New Zealand’s best outdoor journalism We’ve won multiple awards for our journalism and magazine production.
- NZ’s best trips. Browse more than 610 trips with downloadable maps and route notes.
- Trustworthy gear reviews. Each month we review gear we’ve been bashing and thrashing for months so you can determine if its worth your money.
- Web exclusives. Each week we publish stories you won’t find in the magazine. View our latest web exclusives.
- Member benefits. Our WildCard provides discounts at more than 20 partners throughout New Zealand.
- Your support goes a long way. Your subscription will help us fund NZ’s best outdoor journalists and writers and ensure Wilderness will be there to inspire the next generation of outdoor Kiwis.
A subscription costs as little as $7.00/month for instant access to all articles, trips, gear reviews and gear guides.
View all our subscription options and join the club.
Already a subscriber? Login Now.
- Access
- From the car park at Geologist Creek, Dorothy Falls Road
- Map
- BV19
GPX File
- Mt Brown Hut (gpx, 13 KB)
GPX File
- Your device does not support GPX files. Please try a different device.