Hokitika River

Frew Saddle to Mungo River
From Frew Saddle descend north-east into the tussock basin of the upper Hokitika River. Judicious crossing will make travel quicker and easier, but it is also possible to stay on the true left and sidle small bands of speargrass and scrub. About 100 metres before Steadman Creek, climb up to the north on the true left over a tussock shoulder and, from here, markers sidle down valley to Bluff Hut (six bunks, woodburner), rebuilt by DOC in 2009 a few hundred metres south of its old location on an open shoulder.
A marked track leads from Bluff Hut steeply down to the Hokitika River just below its confluence with the Mungo River, where DOC has built a new bridge to replace one destroyed a few years ago.
Times:
Frew Bivouac to Bluff Hut, 3 hrs
Bluff Hut to Poet Hut (Mungo River), 3 ½ hrs
Lower Hokitika River
The Hokitika River below the Mungo–Hokitika confluence is largely untracked and rugged, with thick vegetation. People paddle the river, but few travel it on foot.