Photography by Kathy Catton
If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in teenage angst and screen-time wrangles, you know how vital it is to find those golden moments of connection. For my 13-year-old son and me, that moment came in the form of an overnight tramp to the Woolshed Creek Hut, a picturesque overnight walk just an hour and a half from Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Admittedly, it was the middle of winter, but how hard could it be? We were relatively fit and accustomed to walking on DOC tracks. This two- to three-hour adventure was not just a straightforward out-and-back tramp (aka route march) but an opportunity for a flurry of tears and laughter (from me) and clearing out the “I’m-bored-Mum” cobwebs (from my son).
We began at the Jig Road car park, not far from Mount Somers township, in the foothills of the Southern Alps. The start was straightforward. No mysterious back roads or hidden trails – just a large DOC parking area with toilets and plenty of great signage. My son, not one to err on the optimistic side of life, declared that this would be “rubbish”, and I, ever the cautious realist, prepared myself for a large amount of moaning.
We chose the Miners Track for its gentle start. The path meanders along the riverbank, which was scenic enough to distract us from the minor issue of my son’s new boots rubbing his feet. After about 20 minutes, we came to the remnants of an old coal mine, which, much to his delight, looked like the remains of a movie set. At last, the moaning had stopped.
‘Happy as’
A reasonable amount of puffing and panting later – walking above the bush line and through some incredible mountainous scenery – we arrived at the Woolshed Creek Hut. The hut, built in 2008, is known by DOC as a “serviced hut”, meaning we had mattresses, a wood burner, long-drop toilets and even the luxury of running water. The hut sleeps up to 26 people, all of whom will have booked their spots via the DOC website. As we settled in for the night, we were surprised to see some long-lost friends turn up – a family from Napier with the same idea as us. Out came the cards, head torches and sour lollies, and my son was “happy as”.
The next morning, we were greeted by a heavy frost, so much so, the pipes in the hut were frozen. My mind went to, “How on earth will we brush our teeth?”. My son saw it as the perfect opportunity to crack some ice and marvel at the geometric shapes the frost had formed on the nearby grass and rocks. You know when kids come alive just by being in nature? This was that moment.
Despite the freezing conditions, winter’s touch provided a fabulous distraction for the journey back to the car, with plenty of ice to crack and frost to scoop up. Our trip ended with a visit to the Staveley Café and Store – a charming spot to unwind and refuel. As we sipped our hot chocolate and devoured homemade scones, my son looked at me and said, “Mum, that was actually pretty awesome.” I couldn’t agree more. This hike is a great choice for anyone looking to escape the daily grind and share a memorable adventure with their teenage child.
