If you are heading into Smiths Creek on the Puffer Track be aware that there are a large number (maybe more than 100) of trees down blocking the track, which will take DoC weeks to clear. I believe DoC have a warning at the Marchant Road end (but we didn’t see one where we parked at Kiwi Ranch).

We came out this way last Sunday and after negotiating several falls we eventually decided to drop into Smiths Creek and follow it upstream until it meets the track just before the climb up to the Puffer Saddle. I would recommend using this route (Smiths Creek between the Tauheranikau River and where the creek meets the track below the Puffer Saddle) or going in and out via the track to the old Dobsons Shelter site.

Glynne