Distance: 4.0 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 213m to 379m. Gain: 168m. Loss: 2m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

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

Above Horseshoe Flat Hut the Meoraki valley continues broad and boggy for a kilometer or so before finally the lower valleysides steepen to gentle slopes and the tussock and flat is replaced by drier beech forest.

The track follows the northern bank for 2km from the hut, before crossing to the south. The crossing is knee deep in normal flows, but can easily become impassable after rain. Once on the south, the track becomes rougher underfoot, but still marked and cut (2011). After a further 2km of gentle climb, the track cuts across the steep, rocky southern fork of the Moeraki (a trickle in dry conditons, but again impassible after heavy rain) and emerges onto a sloping grassy clearing at Middle Head Hut just beyond.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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