Distance: 4.7 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 490m to 1183m. Gain: 728m. Loss: 36m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6) 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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

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

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

From the 4WD carpark at the Townshend River bridge, follow the signposted track upstream along the northern bank. Ford the Townshend River upstream of the Dobson Forks - ankle to knee deep in normal flows. Climb the spur between the two creeks. The track is broad, well marked and well cut. It is a long climb but only moderately steep. A handful of spots give views but otherwise you are in bush all the way.

A track joins from the south after 3.5km on a flat shoulder. Black Hill Hut is 600m beyond the junction, continuing up the track climbing the spur.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Black Hill hut a good cut/marked track drops 4km ESE down the spur towards the Townshend/Dobson forks (another track joins from the south after about 600m). It is necessary to ford the Townshend just aboive the forks - ankle-knee deep in normal flows, but could flood. 300m beyond, along the track, you exit the bush at a 4WD carpark and meet the Wharfedale Track which crosses the Townshend via a bridge at this point.

Access downriver from here is on private land - open for walkers but permission required for vehicles.