Take a pleasant walk along the Maruia River through a valley rich in human history.

A trip to Cannibal Gorge Hut can be done as a day hike, an easy overnight trip or as part of the 66km St James Walkway. 

A scenic tarn at the St James Walkway car park at Lewis Pass marks the start of the walk. Keep to the left for the track to the hut. On the right is a shelter, toilet and a view over the tarn. Don’t leave valuables in your car as thefts are common here.

The first few hundred metres are on a boardwalk across an open bog, giving legs a chance to warm up. Soon the track heads downhill into dense beech forest and arrives at a swingbridge over the Maruia River.

This is the start of Kopi o Kaitangata Cannibal Gorge. The name is due to the large number of human bones found here, some as recently as the mid-1900s. Varying reports claim this is due to a skirmish between two iwi; others say it was a place where slaves were slaughtered to provide food for the rest of the party. Hopefully, you’ve brought sufficient supplies to avoid either fate.

From here the trail undulates for 6km along the true right of the river, slowly gaining height and providing glimpses of the towering Spenser Mountains to the northeast. The track is in excellent shape and on a hot day the river’s pools or numerous side streams provide nice spots for a dip. 

About 500m before the hut the track crosses a bridge and enters an open field. Views of the mountains on either side highlight the narrowness of the gorge. The hut lies straight ahead at the end of the field. 

Cannibal Gorge Hut was built in the 1980s and has a large wood stove and kitchen area. The hut stands tall in its surroundings, and has an unusual three-tier bunk set-up. 

Return the way you came or, if walking the St James Walkway, continue up the valley.