From Avoca Homestead to Broken River Hut via Broken River
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Distance: 4.7 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 414m to 474m. Gain: 102m. Loss: 42m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

The route from Avoca Homestead to Broken River hut follows the riverbed and requires multiple crossings. Some crossings were swift/deep/tricky at normal flows (e.g. when the Waimakariri was running at >75 cumecs).

From Avoca Homestead cross the river and follow the 4WD track upstream on broad flats upstream. The track ends after 1.5km as the valley gorges out. The remaining 2.5km of river to Broken River hut requires multiple crossings - though travel is generally on the banks, not in the riverbed.

Look out for a large DOC triangle 300m downriver of the hut on the southern bank, marking the start of the 4WD track to the hut. Alternatively a steep scramble assisted by rope can be used to access the hut from the river directly below the hut.

2-4 hrs

Last updated by: Madpom at 2019-05-17 23:16:36. Experienced: 2019-05-09
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Michal klajban (2025-03-23). Experienced: 2025-03-23

I did a return trip from Avoca Homestead to Broken River Hut in 2.5 hours—13 compulsory river crossings. I did it when the 'Waimakariri River at Below Otarama' flow on the ECan website was 55 m³/s. I wouldn't recommend doing the trip when it's over 70 m³/s. Someone has burnt the orange triangle marking the start of the 4WD track to Broken River Hut, so it's easy to miss.