Distance: 4.5 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 439m to 645m. Gain: 296m. Loss: 175m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

At the Centre Creek track junction, we take the higher track towards Mid Pohinginer. The track climbs the valleyside to sidle high above the river - does not drop to the river as shown on newer maps. The track is cut and well marked and has been benched at some point in the past. However, it can be obliterated by windfall in places if maintenance has not been carried out recently.

The track stays high above the river, dropping steeply to 3 side creeks and climbing again. Finally, it angles down to the point 300m below Mid Pohongina Hut where the swingbridge used to be. A track has been cut to the river at the bridge site, but crossings can be thigh to waist deep even in normal flows. Once across the track climbs the true left over a knob, before dropping again to the hut. You can avoid the climb by heading up the riverbed if flows are low - your feet will already be as wet as they;re going to be anyway!

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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