The six-bunk John Reid Hut lies on a south-facing bench, at the bush edge on the flanks of the spectacular Arthur Range in Kahurangi National Park.

At an altitude of 1250m, it has an unobstructed view of the Wangapeka catchment and, notably, the Mt Owen Massif – a stunning assortment of grey summits jutting above the Rolling River Valley like a series of gun turrets, primed and ready to fire.

A little like the nearby Chummies Track, Gibbs Track climbs the flanks of the Arthur Range, after first fording the Wangapeka (a bit smaller here as it is above the Rolling River Junction).

The track follows Gibbs Creek and then, very steeply at first, up the hillside to the bush edge and an open spur which descends from Pt1566m. Once this sub-summit is reached, the range crest is followed north and east over several small knobs to a small saddle directly north of, and above, the hut. It would be difficult to descend to the hut before this point.

This route offers a spectacular traverse of the range, but requires sound navigation skills.