Distance: 1.2 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 680m to 859m. Gain: 179m. Loss: 5m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Note that the swingbridge at Smyth Hut has been destroyed (2011). Some parties report crossing 300m above the hut but the nearest viable crossing when I visited (Feb 2016) was at the Vane Evans forks

A good route follows the northern bank of the Wanganui upstream from the Smyth confluence to the Vane / Evans forks - mainly on river rock with a few boulder scrambles.

The Evans was not crossable at the forks when I visited - the first good (solo) crossing was 800m up river just above the large waterfall which descends the southern valleyside. The Vane is generally crossable at the confluence unless there's been rain or in high meltwater conditions (early morning is better).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The Vane is generally crossable at the confluence unless there's been rain or in high meltwater conditions (early morning is better). The Evans was not crossable at the forks when I visited - the first good (solo) crossing was 800m up river just above the large waterfall which descends the southern valleyside.

A good route follows the northern bank of the Wanganui downstream to the Smyth confluence - mainly on river rock with a few boulder scrambles.

Note that the swingbridge at Smyth Hut has been destroyed (2011). Some parties report crossing 300m above the hut but the nearest viable crossing when I visited (Feb 2016) was at the Vane Evans forks