Distance: 2.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 870m to 950m. Gain: 113m. Loss: 61m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
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

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

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

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

Upstream of West Harper Hut, the track runs along the riverbank on good tussock and beech terraces. After 800m it starts to climb, reaching 60m above the river, sidling for a bit then drops back to the river flats. The river offers an alternative route for this section if flows are low (knee deep in normal flows, several crossings required).

Above the gorge the track heads up gravel river flats for a further 1km to the Long Gully confluence. Cairns suggest a route, and at least 1 crossing is required (knee deep in normal flows) to end up on the eastern bank at the forks.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Long Gully confluence downstream the track starts on the riverbank on good gravel. Cairns suggest a route. After 1km a large DOC triangle on the western bank marks the start of a sidle track. The track crosses Windy Stream and then swings sharply up the southern bank of the sidestream. Many parties miss the turn and end up heading down the river flats instead - a fire ring and rough campspot is located at the turn. The track climbs 60m up the western valleyside before returning to the valley. That said - in low flows the river may be just as fast (knee deep in normal flows, several crossings required).

Below the gorge the track returns to the river bank, running through beech and tussock flats a further 800m to West Harper Hut.