Distance: 4.0 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 160m to 681m. Gain: 521m. Loss: 114m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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 carpark at the roadend, follow the track for 100m, crossing the swingbridge to the signposted track junction. That's the end of the flat. From here a track climbs steeply up the spur until it tops out at pt572. An easier walk along broad bush ridges follows. A turnoff to Cone Hut is passed, and 300m beyond is another signposted track junction at Cone Saddle.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Cone Saddle, the track follow the broad ridge south, passing another turnoff to Cone Hut, before swinging east. After a couple of kilometers the ridge ends and a steep descent follows, unbroken to the base of the hill at the swingbridge. The Waiohine Gorge roadend is 100m away across the bridge.