Distance: 1.7 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 356m to 527m. Gain: 20m. Loss: 180m . Gradient: 7 deg (Gentle)
Skills:

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

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

From the Mackintosh Hut track junction, the broad marked, cut track sidles gently down to the Tutaekuri River, which it follows briefly upstream to cross on a swingbrige at the picnic area.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

There’s a swingbridge over the river from the picnic area. The bush is solid mature manuka – tall trees rather than low scrub. On the far side of the Tutaekuri with dry feet, a 2m-wide recently recut track heads downriver before climbing up 100m onto the ridge. It is an easy, gentle climb to the saddle where a signpost marks the turnoff to Mackintosh Hut.