Bushwalk Australia

Hi Hivemind
is there usb charging at the new waterfall valley hut?
Cheers Tigercat

21st century issue???

First assumption, it won't work when I get there.

I hope not

The new Waterfall Valley hut has lights and gas heating but no USB outlets.

Why didn't they go electric heating??? The adjacent rangers hut has 6.6 kW of PV and there is room for at least 15 kW on the bushwalkers hut.

No USB charging - that would be taking things way too far

To be honest the 3 lights in the kitchen/common area are pushing it somewhat, though useful for conserving your headlamp batteries, and do give the place a nice ambiance at night.

The gas versus electric heating is an interesting question. Probably cheaper in the long run to fly in cylinders a couple of times a year versus install, maintain and replace enough panels and batteries to match the heat output. I can't imagine the batteries would be long lived out there in the cold of winter, and of course the panels would be covered in snow a fair bit too, reducing efficiency.

Can't complain about the gas heater though. It doesn't belt out heat obviously like a your average domestic heater, but it takes the chill out of the main area very well and looks pretty inviting too, especially when it's -7 degrees C outside.

Thanks headwerkn and Jon MS

For anyone interested, I've put together a bit of a video on the new Waterfall Valley Hut. Hopefully shows it off a bit better and gives a sense of the place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0F851IVZxg

Thanks Headwerkn for the video.
How far away is the Rangers / Hut Wardens Hut
Regards OLM

Overlandman wrote:How far away is the Rangers / Hut Wardens Hut

All of 10-15 metres or so - you pass it on your right as you walk towards the main hut. This was pretty convenient during our stay as their outside water tap was still flowing somewhat the night we were there, though it had frozen too by the next morning