Distance: 2.0 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 560m to 1225m. Gain: 682m. Loss: 29m . Gradient: 21 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From Poet hut a track runs upriver sidling low above deep blue pools. The swingbridge is passed 500m upriver and shortly afterwards a signpost marks the turnoff to Mungo Hut. From here the track climbs steeply through bush then scrub to emerge onto tall tussock faces. A tough ascent follows to the saddle where Toaroha Saddle where Toaroha Saddle Biv sits above a small tarn.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

After an initial tough descent through thick tussock to the scrubline, a good cut track leads straight down the spur to the Mungo River below. Here it joins the track heading down the Mungo from Mungo Hut and the Hokitika Saddle, a crossing into the Wilberforce. Heading downriver from the trock junction, it’s 500m to the swingbridge, which crosses to Homeward Spur and the upper Hokitika. Poet Hut is a further 500m down the sidle track below the swingbridge, beyond inviting blue pools.