Distance: 5.1 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy terrain
Altitude: 340m to 400m. Gain: 48m. Loss: 76m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills:

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

A poled route runs down the south bank of the Caples to the Greenstone/Caples forks from the site of the Birchdale Homestead.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A poled route runs up the south bank of the Caples from the Greenstone/Caples forks to the site of the Birchdale Homestead. The poles start a few hundred meters up the flats from the bridge (presumably to avoid confusing tourists) so head up the flats until you spot them.

Birchdale is located on a terrace 20m above the river and an old vehicle track climbs to the ruin.