Distance: 1.1 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 561m to 583m. Gain: 25m. Loss: 3m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

From Iron Gates Gorge it is possible to head upriver to the campsite by following the Oroua riverbed. Several crossings are required, and the river is typically knee to waist deep. This route is not possible after rain or snowmelt when the river is up. After about 1km a grassy flat on the souther bank is reached, and if you nose around at the upper end of that you will find the basic campsite and the start of the marked track climbing to Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

An unmarked, unmaintained route runs down the riverbed from the campsite to the Iron Gates (gorge). Several rocky river crossings are involved and this is only possible in low-medium river flows. Normal river flows are knee to waist deep.