A rugged climb to a tussock bench with spectacular views over the frontal ranges of the West Coast. By Paulette Birchfield

From the car park head south-east along a short section of track that skirts a bluff, then follow track markers 2.5km up farmed river flats. The route passes the privately owned historic Mikonui Flat Homestead Hut. Built in the late 1880s, it was the original homestead of the Gribben family, early pioneer farmers of the Mikonui Flats.Cross to the true left of Totara River to reach Mikonui Flat Hut. Carry on upriver for another 20min to the sign for Healey Creek Hut (100m past a shingle fan). There are no water sources from here to the hut, so top up before leaving the flats. 

A good honest climb goes from the bush edge to around 800m, where there’s a little respite between steeper sections. The route up is not root-entwined gnarly hand-over-hand climbing, but neither is it an easy benched track. While well-marked, note that the track diverges from the line shown on NZ Topo-Map but rejoins at around the 800m contour.

Here the forest has a lovely dissonance, with intertwined limbs of gnarled trees above soft grasses underfoot. You will walk through natural arbours on a soft carpet of dracophyllum leaves and exit where the forest changes to subalpine vegetation at Pt943, after about 3hr of climbing. On a fine day you can see Mt Bowen (1985m) and in the distance the bright orange of Mikonui Spur Biv to your left, and bright red Dickie Spur Hut to your right.

Further up the ridgeline travel is easy, but watch your feet as the views are distracting, particularly back down the Mikonui Valley. Close to the 1100m contour there is a narrow shingly gut to ascend, which is steep but not exposed. Then it’s a short climb to just over 1200m where you’ll reach a flat section of ridge and begin the descent to the hut, which stands out brightly in cheerful red perched on a golden tussock bench.

Snow poles guide the way to this four-bunk hut, recently renovated with a new toilet in 2022. 

A small rise north of the hut is a lovely spot to sit and watch the sunset, with sweeping views along the coastline to Greymouth and the Paparoa Ranges.