Distance: 3.2 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1317m to 1518m. Gain: 159m. Loss: 318m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

This route is part of the popular southern crossing, and is well used. Giving wonderful views over Wellington and down to the South Island, it is an exposed, alpine track on rock and tussock, well above the bushline.

From Hector, the marked route drops steeply south to the undulating ridgeline that forms the Dress Circle. Once on the narrow ridgeline, a good track heads SSW over several knobs - the Beehives (1485m), Atkinson (1472m), Aston (1376m). A signpost on the broad tops of Aston marks the junction with tracks west to Elder/Renata and SSE to Alpha/Kaitoke.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

This route is part of the popular southern crossing, and is well used. Giving wonderful views over Wellington and down to the South Island, it is an exposed, alpine track on rock and tussock, well above the bushline.

From the signposted track junction on Aston, the poled, well-worn Southern Crossing track continues NE with short climbs over a series of knobs known as the Dress Circle. After the last small knob, The Behives, the ridgeline swings north and a final steep climb follows to the summit of Mt Hector. The highest point in the southern Tararuas, hector also features a memorial cross, and is the junction with an unmarked alpine route/track east to Cone/Neill/Waiohine.