Distance: 3.4 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 289m to 345m. Gain: 132m. Loss: 85m . Gradient: 4 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

From the track junction below Tutuwai Hut a good cut, marked track runs up the east bank of the Tauherenikau River to Cone Hut. A couple of minor stream must be crossed but would only cause problems in extreme conditions.

Great camping spots exist along this side of the river.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A good track runs down river flats from Cone to Tutuwai. Flat travel, well cut through beech. Shortly after passing the Bull Mound track junction, you emerge onto large grassy flats, and a signpost points left to 'Hut'. Tutuwai Hut.
A couple of minor stream must be crossed but would only cause problems in extreme conditions,.