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)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

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

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description