Distance: 6.7 km (3.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 675m to 1189m. Gain: 551m. Loss: 37m . Gradient: 5 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Merged into duplicate route

Crossing to the TL at the swingbridge, the track remains close to the river as it heads upstream.

Mostly gently rising, there are two short sharp climbs as the track approaches Blue Lake. Some lengths of boardwalk assist with dry boots and signal that the hut is very close.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the hut, head downstream, across boardwalk and two steeper sections to a scrubby clearing.

The track continues to descend, remaining close to the river, crossing a couple of slips but mostly remaining under the forest until the swing bridge crossing to the TR, just upstream of the West Sabine Hut.