Westies Hut: South Coast Track Fiordland NZ

We have just returned from this magical place four days walk along the South Coast Track from Tuatapere, Fiordland NZ where we stayed in this wonderful hut nestled in a sea cave at the Western end of Price’s Harbour at the far end of the fabulous ‘South Coast Track’:

This is the first view you have of Price’s Harbour from the track. The topo map and GPS incorrectly locates the Westies cave and hut at the eastern end of the harbour in the cave marked with a white arrow on the rocks. Ignore this. Follow the track to the track junction (.5 hour) and take the left fork, marked with square orange reflectors instead of the usual triangular ones you have been following up to now.

The hut (cave) is in the opposite (Western) side of the Western end (below) of Price’s Harbour.

The turn off (below) is impossible to miss:

Gazing down at the beach in Price’s Harbour – nary a footprint there:

First view of the vista to the West of Price’s Harbour. ‘Victoria’s ‘Twelve Apostles’, eat your heart out!

First view of Westies Cave; the two huts are snuggled down in there:

First view of Westies hut(s):

Westies main hut (where he lived for a number of years) is nestled just inside the cave mouth with a splendid view out to sea:

View from the toilet:

I will add this to my list of interesting toilets:

The cave has a second (western) entrance. This is the splendid view from it:

And with me being a blot on the landscape:

And this a few steps further along:

Looking back East towards the main cave:

You had to descend dizzying cliffs through the jungle to get down here:

Like this:

My (hand) specialist was doubtful why I asked whether my new knuckles would be strong enough to climb a rope:”

To the East one cave leads to a little beach or another cave. There is a veritable maze of wonderful sea caves:

So many:

With delightful glimpses through them:

They frame beautiful landscapes:

You can just walk through from one to the other:

Again and again:

Until you’re not sure which way is back:

A worry if the sea is rising:

Another outstanding feature of Price’s Harbour are the awesome stone monoliths:

They are so enchanting:

Some come with their own mermaids/sirens (wrapped well against sandflies):

Finally you look out East towards the other headland of Price’s Harbour – the one the GPS wrongly thinks the hut is in:

The main cave is very large. The huts have seven berths (a double in the main hut) and five bunks in the second hut. There is ample room on the floor to sleep a few people more. Outside a veritable army could camp.

There is a ‘chip’ water heater and a hot shower:

Inside the main hut is friendly and cosy. Four could easily sit around the table. There is a two seater lounge, a double bed, a pot belly stove, sink (with water), a couple of windows with splendid views out to sea. What a home it is.

The bunk house:

Above the hut is the water supply: a small stream (you might need to clean out the filter, and a rain catchment roof for the ‘dry season’. There are carefully printed instructions about how to operate the plumbing. This is the first thing you see when you arrive. Follow the hose to the cave. Deer walk along the beach and from cave to cave. There are crayfish and paua (abalone) in abundance. Blue cod can be caught easily from the rocks. Paradise!