Distance: 6.1 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 740m to 821m. Gain: 84m. Loss: 26m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

If you are walking from the Henry Valley/Anne Hut area to the Waiau Valley towards Waiau Pass, it is possible to stay on the St. James Walkway path (which is a little nicer) past the St. James/Waiau Pass Track (TA route) junction. The St. James Walkway is a little nicer to walk on because it is a tramping track with bridges, and, because it hugs the valley edge while the Waiau Pass Track swings wide out into the valley floor, it is a touch shorter. The two tracks pass within 200m of one another and a short walk off-track will allow you to pass between them.

From the St. James/Waiau Pass Track (Te Araroa Trail) junction, continue on the St. James Walkway path, crossing several small streams. Passing St. James trampers may tell you you have taken a wrong turn, but you have a plan. As the track turns into the Waiau Valley, at the foot of a small remnant of bush, leave the track and bush-bash 100-150m across open tussock flats until you intersect with the 4WD track that forms the Waiau Pass Track at this point. If you are on the St. James Walkway and you come to the Ada River, you have gone too far.

Continue on the Waiau Pass Track. Cross the Ada River (straightforward and shin-deep in late-summer low flows, but could be dangerous or impassable after heavy rain). Walk past the station, keeping to the track to give all station buildings a wide berth. Continue along the TL side of the Waiau River, climbing a small embankment to a terrace above the river. The path then follows along the top of this terrace until the junction with the Ada Track.

Waiau Hut is approximately another 4 hrs upriver from the Ada Track junction. Total travel time between Anne Hut and Waiau Hut for a reasonably fast tramper in good weather is 6-6.5 hours. Good camping is available further upvalley from the hut in a clearing near the top forks of the Waiau River, just below the start of the climb to the pass (about 2-2.5 hours past Waiau Hut).