Distance: 0.4 km (0.3 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1358m to 1484m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 126m . Gradient: 19 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

Ice axe advised if snow / ice present.

From the summit of Arete, follow the ridgeline briefly (say 50m) east and pick up a poled route dropping SE towards Arete Hut. There is no clear ground trail, and the hut can be hard to locate in poor visibility - but it does not lie directly on the poled route, which helps. (Not that the hut has been relocated to the ridgeline, 300m SSW of its former location in the basin at the head of Arete Stream).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Arete Hut, follow the poled route uphill, climbing the tussock face to Arete Peak above.