Distance: 2.0 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 161m to 398m. Gain: 226m. Loss: 267m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate-hard)
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

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

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

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

From PC Cox Hut the well cut track descends gently to a saddle and climbs a beech knob before swinging NE and dropping steeply to the river. The creek is small and ankle deep in normal flows. It could become impassable after heavy rain.

On the eastern bank the track enters pine trees and becomes a dirt forestry road, zigzagging and climbing steeply to reach the Mountain Track Road on the ridgeline opposite. The junction is signposted.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track start off Mountain Track Road, follow the marked dirt forestry road NW as it descends steeply towards Waikouaiti River. A fork (right) after 300m is signposted 'tunnels', but you can turn left and descend directly to the river.

The river crossing is typically ankle deep, but could flood after heavy rain.

On the eastern bank a basic cut / marked tramping track climbs steeply through beech and manuka to reach the knob above. From here going is gentle, dropping to a saddle and climbing easily to reach Phillip J Cox Memorial Hut.