Distance: 1.9 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 341m to 923m. Gain: 611m. Loss: 29m . Gradient: 20 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills:

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

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

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

From the signposted track junction a well marked track head NW over flat tops before dropping steeply to the Hector River. The track is marked but loose in places lower down. On reaching the river, the track follows the near bank 200m downstream to Neill Forks Hut, where a swingbridge to the opposite bank is also located.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The track heads briefly upriver from Neill Forks before swinging SE to climb steeply to the ridgeline above. The track is well marked though a little loose in places low down. Quite a bit of windfall crosses the track and some (mostly well-worn) diversions are in place. Just keep an eye out for orange markers in several spots as some animal tracks are present. 600 vertical meters on unchanging gradient follows before suddenly it ends and you find yourself on flat, boggy, wooded tops. A signpost 100m beyond marks the junction with the Cone-Totora Flats track.