Distance: 1.5 km (0.6 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 477m to 531m. Gain: 18m. Loss: 56m . Gradient: 3 deg (Flat)
Skills:

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

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

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

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

A benched MTB-standard track follows the southern bank of Dobson Stream to the Townshend River forks. Here you can either continue on the southern bank to the bridge 300m downstream using the high-river route, or follow the shorter route down the streambed to the bridge.

A 4WD carpark exists on the north bank of the river at this point (but permission required for vehicle access)

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Cross to the southern bank of the Townshend River at the bridge by the 4WD carpark. The 'high-river track' loops south and returns to the river above the Dobson Stream forks, or you can follow the river up past the forks if river levels are low. From above the forks a single benched MTB-standard track runs uop the southern bank form 1.5km to Wharfedale Hut.

20-40 mins