Currently there are seven miniature hike huts around Wellington, see: http://keminiko.com/
There are links to a page about each of the huts from that page.
Next Saturday 24th January I am thinking of trying to visit all 7 of them. Is anyone interested in joining me and making a day of it?
Here's a map of where they all are:
They each involve a walk/hike of up to half an hour.
The trikiest one to do if you want to do all 7 in a day is possibly the Somes Island one.
There's and East-West Ferry timetable here: http://eastbywest.co.nz/timetables/
I thought I might try to catch the 10am one from Queens Wharf (arrives Somes Island at 10.20am) and then catch the 11.40 one to get back to Queens Wharf at 12.00.
So I thought my rough schedule might be:
6.30am depart my house in Khandallah , pick up a coffee on the way through town, and then 1. Tarakena Trail at approx. 7.00 am via this route.
Then Drive to Red Rocks and go to 2. Robin Hut arriving at the Red Rocks Carpark at about 7.20am via this route. It is then about a 15 minute walk to the hut (one way). So returning to the carpark about 8.00am.
Then driving from the Red Rocks carpark to Newtown Park via this route, arriving at approx. 8.15 am to then walk to 3. Mt. Albert Portal Hut and follow the directions which say:
Follow the ridge-line route of the Southern walkway in Newtown park. From the summit, by the lookout seat and survey mark, walk south towards the radio towers. The path to Portal veers off the main track to your right. Climb into the concrete bunker and step inside Portal.
The guide says it is a 15 - 25 minute walk, so allowing 50 minutes all up we'd be back to the car at 9.05am. It's then a 15 minute drive into the city via this route to get to Queens Wharf. That give 30 -40 minutes to park the car, have breakfast and second coffee and get tickets for the ferry to Somes Island...
Depart Queens Wharf at 10.00am, arrive at Somes Island at 10.20am It's a 20 minute walk via this route to 4. the Doc Hut on the South coast of Somes Island, and then walk back to the wharf via this different route to be back at the wharf in plenty of time for the 11.40am ferry back to Queens Wharf (12.00pm).
Then take a break for some lunch somewhere in town - perhaps One Red Dog, or the BackBencher.
Then at about 1pm set off for the afternoon leg covering 5. The Trees Hut at the Mt. Vic Lookout; and then 6. The Aoraki Biv on Mt. Cook; before finally 7. The Crystal Hut in Aro Valley.
I reckon all that walking might work up a thirst - so some Garage Project and/or Hop Garden recovery soothing ales might be in order after that.
Let me know if you want to come along on the adventure.
If the weather is a bit pants on teh Saturday I might postpone until the Sunday - aiming to be at Dave Farrington Park for 3pm kick off.