Distance: 3.1 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 306m to 462m. Gain: 36m. Loss: 186m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

A riverbed route leads down Diggers (Matawakawa) stream towards the road. This starts flat and broad, and though one section of moderate boulders rapids is passed, it is reasonable going in normal flows. Countless river crossings are required. Depth is generally knee to thigh deep, though a few deeper crossing are required. The gradient flattens again, and sheep-grazed grassy faces become visible ahead. Just before reaching then, Forks Stream enters from the south.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Above the forks the gradient is flat thought the river is narrower than the lower section and no flat present - walking is on riverbank rocks or int he stream. After 1.5km a section of bouldery rapids is reached, and some hopping and sidling is required, though going remains moderately easy. For the last km, the valley broadens again, though the flats are scrubby and travel is still in the now-flat riverbed.

Diggers Hut sits 30m back from the river on a tall grassy flat, opposite a large grassy face/slip. The private track from Arbors Rd is reached 50m downriver from the hut and is signposted.