Distance: 5.6 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 0m to 32m. Gain: 205m. Loss: 189m . Gradient: 4 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Secondary, mapped (3/5)
Formal route, on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Due to the steep coastal terrain and numerous rocky and slippery sections, most of this route is unmarked and should only be attempted by people with a high level of backcountry experience and navigation skills. This route is only possible if started 2 hours before low tide from Smoothwater Bay and when the sea conditions are calm. From Smoothwater Bay the track becomes a route. Head south to Stafford Bay. There is a difficult, rocky bluff section (prone to sea surges about five minutes after leaving Smoothwater Bay) which requires fording coastal pools. Further down the coast there are two very steep headlands either side of Homminy Cove that require great care. Once you have crossed both headlands continue south along the coast until you reach Stafford River. Stafford Hut is 150 m up the river, on the true left.
Warning: Do not attempt this coastal track in the reverse direction. If the tide or sea conditions are not suitable you are likely to get stranded along the coast.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The DOC does not recommend attempting the track in the reverse direction due to the possibility of being stranded by swells on the scrambling sections.