Distance: 1.6 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 495m to 649m. Gain: 145m. Loss: 297m . Gradient: 17 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

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

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

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

No notes taken other than it took me 30 minutes. Please edit if you have details.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Well formed track from Cow Saddle down to the river - you can see the hut across the river, which could be crossed in low flows, track turns left (south east) and crosses at least one side stream. It seems to go well past the hut, but you will arrive at a big new swing-bridge. Hut is located immediately on opposite bank.