Distance: 11.7 km (5.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 475m to 774m. Gain: 565m. Loss: 277m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

From the main Clarence valley 4WD track, a secondary, & driveable, 4WD track heads up the TL bank of Limestone Stream for 400-500m, before it climbs to a higher terrace. From the lower terrace, drop to the wide shingle bed & begin heading upstream. The valley eventually narrows & it remains easy to criss-cross the ankle to shin deep stream at-will. The stream twists & turns through the valley & after 1 hr 45 min, a stand of poplars on a prominent bend on the TL of the stream is reached. Another stand of poplars on the TR is reached 10 minutes later. The scars from the 2018 Kaikoura earthquake are evident as you ascend the stream.

After approximately 3.0-3.5 hrs, Limestone Stream enters a gorge, containing large rocks & boulders, the gorge & rocks are easily navigated with care. The water level remains shin height, but the drop of the stream is more measurable. 45-60 minutes later, the gorge ends, the stream levels out & a relatively straight piece of water is followed, with the next 30-45 minutes being easy travel. When you reach a major fork in the stream, the hut is only 200 metres away up the true left fork, although the hut is not visible from the stream bed at the forks.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the hut head downstream to the forks & continue heading downstream for the next 5 hrs. After 1-1.5 hrs the top of the gorge is reached & the fall of the stream is evident, as is the increase in the size of the rocks & boulders. 1 hr after entering the gorge, the valley begins to gradually widen & one crosses the stream as & when required, barely getting ones feet wet. After 3.0-3.5 hrs, the first of two stands of poplars within close proximity of each other, is reached, after which, the valley continues to widen & the final 1.5-2.0 hrs is easy travel.