Distance: 4.0 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 665m to 737m. Gain: 10m. Loss: 80m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, 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

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

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

From the Homestead Campsite, exit onto Hawkdon Runs Road and follow it east to the river, which must be forded (the bridge has been destroyed). This crossing is knee deep in normal flows but is impassable after rain. Follow Home Hills Road 1km south. After 1km a signpost marks the turnoff up Shepherd's Hut Creek to the Mt Ida Water Race track and for access on foot to the Hawkdon Range.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Shepherd's Hut Creek turnoff, Home Hills Road runs 1km further north to the junction with Hawkdon Runs Road from the west. Take Hawkdon Runs Road and ford the creek (the bridge has been destroyed). This crossing is knee deep in normal flows but is impassable after rain. 500m beyond, a set of yards mark the turnoff north up the Manuherikia to Boundary and Top Huts. To reach the Homestead campsite continue 1km west along the road to where a signpost points into a block of mature pines containing the campsite and shelter. A walking track from the homestead also connects to the track up the Manuheikia.