Amber Cannon and Emilie Bruce enjoyed hot drinks on a sub-zero morning at Tarn Hut in the Puketeraki Conservation Area.

Gina Murillo stopped for a cuppa at Dominie Hut on her way up to Kaweka J in Kaweka Forest Park.

Una and Xanthe celebrated their 16th birthdays on Matariki weekend with a trip to Atiwhakatu and Powell huts in Tararua Forest Park with Susannah, Eloise, Milla and Amelia

John Burgess finished the Jumbo–Holdsworth circuit anticlockwise. “I had just enough dexterity left in my frozen fingers to get my gloves off and capture this rainbow over Phil Hancock and Alexis Silvani. We were relishing being able to hear each other again after we had sleet driven into our faces by a feral wind across the tops,” he said.

Hannah Gray (left) and Kelly Allen went to Fenella Hut in Kahurangi National Park. “We were fulfilling a goal of Kelly’s to climb Xenicus Peak and do the loop around to Cobb Lake and back to the hut,” said Hannah.

Finlay and Isla Edwards were acquainted with Waitawheta Hut’s furriest resident. “Gotta love a hut dog!” said dad Chris.

Quinn Adams was thrilled to find Leitch’s Hut actually existed after “all that walking”.

Bridget Hill, David Wilkinson, Fiona Wharton and Alison Alchin walked the Routeburn. “We had great views down the Hollyford Valley,” David said.

Charles Dawson headed into Syme Hut and Fanthams Peak in Te Papakura o Taranaki.

Owen Cotton carried a 4kg bag of charcoal briquettes into Mangaehuehu Hut, in case there was no firewood (he didn’t carry them back). “It was perfect weather conditions except for the cloud over Mt Ruapehu that didn’t clear until late afternoon,” said Owen. “We had a lovely night in the hut.”