Distance: 2.9 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 636m to 679m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 43m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

Head down the river flats from Poulter Hut, crossing to the southern bank of the Poulter. The river was low (ankle deep) when I visited in February, but can easily become impassable. Travel down the southern bank is possible without crossing, if you do not need to access Poulter Hut.

Look out for a quad bike track, marked with DOC markers, commencing on the southern bank at the start of the major river bend. A signpost 300m further down this track marks the uppermost point that mountainbikes may be ridden up the valley. Trust Poulter Hut is on the bushedge 100m south of the sign.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The quad bike track up the Poulter continues for 200m beyond Trust-Poulter hut, ending at gravel river flats. Continue up the riverbed to where Poulter Hut is visible on the northern bank. The river was low (ankle deep) when I visited in February, but can easily become impassable. Travel up the southern bank is possible without crossing, if you do not need to access Poulter Hut.