Distance: 7.8 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 443m to 552m. Gain: 195m. Loss: 86m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

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

A good farm track heads NNW across rough paddocks from the signposted track start on Leews Valley Road. At the base of the hills a deer fence is reached with a locked gate. A stile is provided 200m to the east along the fenceline near the river. After crossing the stile, return to the track on the far side of the fence.

The track follow river terraces up the west bank of the Ashley though rough hill farm country. There are a few turnoffs, but the public track is marked with DOC marker poles at each. The valley opens to flats at the forks with the Lillburne River. The public track turns right here, crossing the Lillburne and heading across flats on it;s northern bank to the base of the spur beyond. A signpost here on the fenceline marks the junction of tracks onwards to Tarn and Youngman Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction north of the Lillburne, follow the farm track down the northern bank to cross at the ford and return to flats on the south. The farm track follows the Ashley downstream from here to the Lees Valley Road. A locked gate blocks the track at the start of the plains. A stile is provided 200m to the east - return to the track after crossing htr stilr and follow it all the way to the roadend.