Asbestos Cottage,
Kahurangi National Park

Built in 1897, the gaps between the wall panels and floorboards belie this unique hut’s age. What Asbestos Cottage lacks in insulation, though, it more than makes up for with rustic charm and historical backstory.

Asbestos Cottage was home, between 1914 and 1951, to Annie Fox and Henrey Chaffey, a reclusive couple escaping past marriages. They spent nearly 40 years here, living off the forest and with occasional trips to Takaka for supplies.

Nowadays, the cottage acts as a unique DOC hut. It has a living space with a large open fireplace and a bedroom with four bunks. There’s an outdoor long-drop toilet and water from a nearby stream.

It’s free to stay at Asbestos Cottage.

To find out more about our visit to Asbestos Cottage, click here.