Distance: 2.7 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 92m to 588m. Gain: 13m. Loss: 503m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

The track is fairly well marked with red permolat (some with reflectors), sometimes very close together, sometimes a bit far apart, and hard to see where mildew has grown over the paint or the light is dim. The track follows the main spur down to the stream junction. Cross the stream coming in from the right and continue either in the stream bed, or up a little and to the right, the track can be found. It's a short few minutes to the Old Mill site.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the old mill site, follow the track up the valley. Upon reaching the large stream in on the left, cross over and find the track coming off the toe of the spur. The track climbs steadily up to the junction of the Thompson-Waitewaewae ridge.