Distance: 1.3 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1480m to 1503m. Gain: 20m. Loss: 23m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is 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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the signposted Top Gorge Hut track junction, the tussock-clad Ngamoko Range runs NNE for 1.5km to reach an unnamed highpoint at which the range swings due east. (From here a spur dropping NNW leads to Iron Gates Hut.)

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Continuing SSW across the undulating Ngamoko Tops for a further 1.5km takes you to pt1505, where a sign marks the start of a track dropping SE to Top Gorge Hut.