Distance: 4.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 467m to 606m. Gain: 73m. Loss: 190m . Gradient: 3 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

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

The Timaru River Track leaves the bush a few hundred meters west of the Stodys hut junction and sidles downriver for a further 2km on scrubby faces/terraces before dropping to the river at the first shingle flats. From here, travel downstream is unmarked on the riverbed gravel flats, crossing as necessary. Crossings are required and whilst ankle-knee deep in normal flows can easily become impassable after rain.

Chamois Creek is the first main creek entering from the North and gives access to Moonlight and Roses hut.

1-2 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the forks with Chamois Creek the Timaru River route continues unmarked up river flats for a further 2km, crossing the creek as necessary. Crossings are required and whilst ankle-knee deep in normal flows can easily become impassable after rain. After 2km, look out for markers on the southern side of flats marking the start of a poled route climbing 20m onto low scrubby terraces. Soon after the river flats end and the valley gorges out so it is necessary to locate and follow this track.

The poled route sidles for 2km or so through scrubby fales and terraces to reach the start of beech forest where a good marked cut track commences. The signposted junction with Te Araroa (Stodys Hut / Pakatui Hut) is 500m beyond.

1-2 hrs