In flood conditions these can become impassable blocking access to and from the track. The western end of the track is 15 kilometres north of Karamea on the West Coast. Bus and taxi services are available to both ends of the track from nearby towns, and regular bus services link Nelson and Westport. Air services make it possible to walk the track and return by air to near your starting point. Air services are also available to Golden Bay from Auckland and Wellington.
Accommodation is available in all the local towns.
This is an east to west description of the track. Times are approximate only and will vary according to fitness, pace of group and direction of travel. Brown Hut has bunk space for 20. About 180 metres upstream from the hut cross the bridge over the Brown River, then a grassy flat before winding up a well defined track and into the bush. The track climbs gradually following a route once surveyed for a road.