If you’re poor on time or can’t secure a booking for the full Routeburn Track, an out-and-back hike to Harris Saddle, the highest point on Great Walk, makes a spectacular day out.

Walk through beech forest, take in Routeburn Falls and enjoy an alpine basin. The trip culminates with phenomenal vistas from the saddle. Soak in the views of the Hollyford Valley and Darran Mountains, and back down the Harris Basin.

Missed Friday’s feature? Rees-Dart circuit 'closed indefinitely', tramper missing for 19 days found in Kahurangi hut, adventurer carrying kilos of rubbish the length of New Zealand, and more in last week’s outdoors news!

Wilderness is proud to announce the inaugural Shaun Barnett Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to leading tramping author and photographer Shaun Barnett. Open to aspiring photojournalists of all ages, the annual scholarship offers up to $1000 to the successful applicant in support of their backcountry adventures and creative development.

*Base weight is how much your loaded pack weighs, minus ‘consumables,’ such as food, water and fuel.

Check Wednesday’s newsletter for the results!

In the past year, 26 volunteers from the Greater Wellington Backcountry Hut Network (GWBN) donated more than 2160 hours of their time improving the huts in their area, and across 32 tracks completed over 100km of maintenance.

The group also launched a new project to supply cleaning materials to the 50 huts within its network, for hut users to then help keep the accommodation clean.

It’s since become a community effort, with local Wellington tramping club members carrying 20-litre buckets full of cleaning gear to the huts.

This week’s photo comes from Judith Bateup who had a surprise three-night stay at Welcome Flat Hut after the Upper Copland Valley Track was closed due to high rainfall. “It was no great hardship,” she said.

Judith submitted this photo as part of our monthly Last Weekend feature. Each month we publish reader submitted photos in the mag and online. If your photo is published you’ll received a Real Meals meal worth $18!

Email [email protected] with your submissions.

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