Distance: 0.6 km (0.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 456m to 476m. Gain: 18m. Loss: 31m . Gradient: 4 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

Downriver from Te Totora Hut, travel is easy on the southern bank of Te Totora Stream. 300m from the hut a signpost marks the old overgrown overland route to the swingbridge, and a track continues downstream for the river route. The track peters out shortly before the confluence, where it crosses to the western bank (for those continuing downriver).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Above the Parahaki / Te Totora confluence, the Te Totora soon widends to broad flats. The route heads up the south-western bank, and soon a marked, well traveled track starts. A signpost 500m upriver marks the 'overland route' to the Waiau Swingbridge (overgrown and poorly marked), and 300m beyond the grassy flats start and the hut is found on the southern bank (300m upriver of the site shown on many maps).