Child friendly rating: 5 stars
Distance: n/a
Signposted time: n/a
Bookings Required? No
Suitable in Winter? Can be
Camping Available? Plenty
4wd required? Yes
Parking:
You can park at the door of the hut!
The Track:
Take the Rainbow Road from behind Hanmer Springs to get here. If you come from the south, you avoid needing to pay the toll to go through Rainbow Station. Coming from the north, the road is rougher, and you need a real 4WD. From the south, you could almost get away with a good clearance 4WD.
From the south, the road is graded to 2WD level if you come via Jacks Pass as far as Lake Tennyson. (Might need chains in winter) From here it's another just under 20km to the Sedgemere Sleepout. Coming via Jollies Pass is definitely not suitable for a 2WD.
If you're not sure if your 2WD will make it, another option would be to take bikes. The track would be very easy to cycle from the point where you decide to leave your 2WD after Lake Tennyson.
Via the north, it's also a $100 toll per vehicle, and the road is locked over winter ( 1st April - Labour Weekend approx), when you need to ring up Rainbow Station to borrow a key (Same $100 toll applies in this case, and you mail the key back at your cost once done).
Hut:
The hut is a standard 6-bunk hut with individual bunks, fireplace, and a benchtop. Water is outside, and to be honest not always reliable, so better to bring your own or collect from the stream. It can get cold here in winter, so make sure you've got enough extra layer then.
The hut was built in 1968 by the Electricity Department and taken over by DOC in 1998.
It's popular among fly fishermen.
Recommendations:
A great option if you have a 4WD and are just after an easy weekend adventure!