Erewhon Hut

May 08, 2026

In spring 2023 with icy howling winds blasting snow into every part of me and surrounded by bleak walls of dismal grey rock and not much else I stopped at 1300m near a swampy tarn and made the decision to turn around and leave the empty mountains. Thoughts in my head were along the lines of I'm not coming back here, and what an average place (in worse terms). 
Due to extreme nosiness and the seemingly only apparent easy access to the peaks in the area I had decided to go up the Mt Potts Easement track and have a look at the ski field. I quite enjoy checking out all the little ski fields in the off season - usually easy access to the tops and probably inspired by spending my youth snowboarding & chasing powder days at our local Rainbow ski field. 
Earlier this year I received a message about this same area - a hut purpose built for ski touring had been built since I had visited further up the valley at 1750m. After a some more research, I realized I may have written off the area a little too soon. A little red hut had been built on a rocky knoll, perched up high in the center of the basin with the scree flowing around it, placed just so to avoid being blasted away by avalanches, and bolted to the rock to withstand those howling 300km/hr gales.
It turns out there was quite the operation up at Mt Potts over the years, with the action starting in 1958 with a bottom tow, then a track to the current hut location - cut with a D4 Dozer in 1963. There was even a Chalet and Day Lodge in the bottom flat part of the valley. Then there was a Middle tow that ran up to just below the hut (very steep here) and a top tow from the hut to the basin at 1840m - some of the ropes are still there.
Also an original "Top Hut" just north of the current hut location that somehow survived the harsh elements until around 2011 despite lacking the engineering of the new. 
Today's hut will likely last many lifetimes, with steel foundations bolted to the ground using 20mm rods set in epoxy set into rock. This involved getting the rock down to a stable point where 24mm diameter holes were drilled 300-400mm deep to set these rods into. The hut is also tied down with 8 thick guy wires.
It's also a very cosy hut, with 150mm thick walls insulated with wool, double glazing, and very warm fires (one in each room). So warm we had to let the fire go out to sleep.
I particularly like the choice of red, which looks lovely in the barren alpine environment, the heavy navy blue mountain shadows contrasting with it. Also the loo - very cool - the original structure but with an added skylight for relaxing views down the mountain, although a warning: It has a very narrow door.
It's a must to visit, particularly if you like to ski numerous powder basins - Erewhon Hut at Mt Potts Conservation Area.
More about the area here.

On a much nicer day than that day in 2023 looking up the valley towards Erewhon Hut. You can see how it's perched in a strategic spot with wonderful views.


Looking down below the hut to the flat spot where the Chalet and Day Lodge & bottom tow. The Middle tow came up the steep snowy face on the right.


An old skifield map showing the tows and runs.


The old Top Hut with the extension.


The original Top Hut before it was extended and with the skifield access.


The loo - Dazzlers Dunny, the original structure, with added skylight and modern waste systems. Very narrow door that a large person would have to sidle through.

The extremely cosy Erewhon Hut.

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