Distance: 4.4 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 597m to 782m. Gain: 190m. Loss: 210m . Gradient: 5 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

A grassy side valley connecting to the Whitestone from the east marks the turnoff to cross to the Kiwi Burn. Climb the valley all the way up to its head, a large orange triangle stands out at the edge of the trees marks where the track begins. It climbs steeply up the hill to a tiny clearing on the saddle. From here an overgrown and very muddy track heads down into the Kiwi Burn valley.

Cross a small tussocky clearing (look for markers inside the trees) and then head down a long bush section to reach another large tussock clearing. Keep close to the western side of the clearing, a triangle marks where to enter the trees near the bottom of the hill. Its then on down through more muddy bush to reach another clearing where a DOC sign marks the track junction of the Kiwi Burn Loop.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the DOC signposted Kiwi Burn Loop junction, a rough track enters the bush and heads up the hill towards the Kiwi Burn Saddle. This track is much more overgrown then the Loop and considerably muddy on the Kiwi Burn side. A good eye needs to be kept out for orange triangles.

The first large clearing is crossed, wading through tussock, keep a good eye for an orange triangle that marks where the track reenters the bush. After a long climb a small clearing is crossed (no markers at the bush edge, look for triangles a short distance into the trees), and the broad flat saddle is crossed in bush to another tiny clearing on its highest point. From the clearing, markers lead the way down a short, steep section until you pop out of the trees near the top of an open side valley which drops down into the Whitestone. There's no markers in the valley, but simply follow the valley down to reach the main river. There's good camping at the bush edge in a couple of spots, including a hunters fly camp on the northern bush edge beside the stream.