Distance: 5.4 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 743m to 1289m. Gain: 546m. Loss: 0m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

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

From the carpark the track crosses a small stream (ankle deep) and follows a farm track beside deer fences to the top fence of the current farmland. A poled route starts there, heading north along the fenceline for 200m before swinging ENE and climbing until it encounters an old tumbledown fenceline climbing due east. This section is sparsely poled and can be missed - but if you hit the EW fenceline shown on maps and follow it east you'll pick up the track again.

The track climbs moderately until it hits the old top boundary fence. Just beyond this is an old 4WD track where a signpost points left to Rex Simmonds Hut and upwards to Camp Stream.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track junction where the 4WD track hits the boundary fence, a poled route drops down the east-west fenceline towards Mt Gerald station (visible below). After a couple fo kilometers the track cuts WSW, crossing the fenceline and cutting the corner to hit the deer fences below. This section is easy to lose.

Once on the deer fence, follow it south to the boundary gate (where there is a DOC signpost) the follow the farm track east through the gate, dropping gently to the carpark at Coal Stream.