Distance: 2.5 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 837m to 856m. Gain: 11m. Loss: 27m . Gradient: 1 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From Waiau Hut the poled route / cut track continues down the western side of the Waiau, cutting in and out of beech forest. After 2km the last of the beech is left behind.

For those headed east, It is possible to cross the still-small Waiau at this point to pick up 4WD tracks on the eastern side of the valley.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The Waiau Pass track continues north up the western side of the Waiau, cutting in and out of beech forest for a further 2km to reach the modern Waiau Hut.