Comet Road end to Shutes Hut: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

From Comet Road End take a 2-3 hour walk to historic Shutes Hut, built in 1920 for rabbiters and musterers to use.

This DOC directory entry covers Comet Road end to Shutes Hut in Hawke's Bay, within Kaweka Forest Park / Ruahine Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 6.5 km one way
• Walking time: 2-3 hr
• DOC grade: Advanced

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

• Predator control for Ruahine Forest Park – north-east Ruahine; First published on 7 January 2026. Last reviewed on 6 October 2026.

Dog access

Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

A track leads from the end of Comet Road to the Taruarau River and on to Shutes Hut in the northern Ruahine Forest Park.

Shutes Hut is a quaint historic building made of local stone and cement mortar. It was built in 1920 and used first as a rabbiters hut and then by musterers. The hut is maintained to ensure its historic integrity is retained.

Note: Comet Hut has been removed from the end of Comet Road. It is still marked on the map, but there is no hut or shelter at this site. The hut has been relocated beside the Ngaruroro River and renamed Komata Hut.

Getting there

Turn off the Taihape Napier Road onto Comet Road. The Comet Road turn off is about 70 km (1 hr 15 min drive time) from Hastings. Follow Comet Road until the end (3 km).

A forestry gate has been installed at the start of Comet Road to allow for closure in the event of unsafe road conditions. If the road is closed, an alert will be displayed on this page.

Kaweka Forest Park access conditions

We recommend 4WD vehicles to reduce wear on the road and safe travel.

• Lotkow Road: The river crossings are regularly changing, check before crossing.

• Lakes carpark is accessible via Kuripapango road. The previous access Castle Rock road is now closed due to ongoing forestry operations.

• Lawrence Carpark access road: The last 600 m of the road is steep and not recommended for 2WD vehicles - a parking space is available before the descent. The Lawrence swing bridge has been removed.

• Mackintosh car park is currently closed due to ongoing forestry operations. A new parking location can be located at a skid site near the closed gate (end of Kuripapango Road), this will add on 500 m walking to reach the start of the track.

• Whittle Road: Be aware of trucks using the quarry. Give them right of way where possible.

Know before you go

Stay safe when crossing rivers and streams

If you plan to cross unbridged rivers or side streams, know how to cross safely and be prepared for if you cannot cross.

Do not cross if the river or stream is flooded, you cannot find safe entry and exit points or are unsure it’s safe. Turn back or wait for the river to drop. If in doubt, stay out.

How to cross rivers safely

NIWA river flow forecasts: View a video of national followed by regional river flows

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.