Distance: 3.2 km (2.3 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 544m to 855m. Gain: 258m. Loss: 342m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, 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

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

There are three tracks that depart from Mackintosh Hut so make sure you choose the correct one. From directly behind the hut the benched, well-marked & wide track makes it's way S-SE through native bush for a brief time. The vegetation then changes to the exotic forests of the north Mackintosh plateau & the track crosses several small un-named streams in the process. The track begins to descend to the Tutaekuri River, far below & as it does so, it enters some lovely stands of native bush on the north side of the valley. The track steepens & zigzags it way ever downward. About 20m above the river, the track sidles down stream along the true left for 300-400m as it crosses several scree slopes, with one in particular requiring attention due to the exposure. The track narrows as it passes underneath sheer rock walls before gently dropping to a steel gantry bridge across the Tutaekuri. Immediately on the other side the track begins a relentless zigzag up the south face of the valley through lovely native bush towards the car park. Upon reaching the rim of the south Mackintosh plateau the track flattens as it hits the pine trees & the track makes a bee-line for the car park. Note: some maps show a 'walkwire' across the Tutaekuri River. It is in-fact a steel bridge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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