Leave Arrowtown Chinese Village over the short bridge by the toilet block, then head anticlockwise on the Sawpit track following the pipeline track alongside Arrow River.
Head up approx 2km to the junction, left up Sawpit track - an easy amble. Follow up the climbing switchbacks until the track levels out and you're sidling along about Sawpit Gully. You will get to a rock step; on your right you'll see a narrow single trail, follow it and turn a quick left to the big tree. Climb above the tree on the rock, once on top of the tree trunk you will see a single trail leading between two rocks. The track will turn hard left and lead you up the ridgeline, parallel with the Sawpit track below. Follow up the ridge - the single trail is obvious.
It's a steady climb up until you get to the top of the ridge. The single track leads you across the top with an obvious path until it drops down slightly, sidling down to the bottom of the shingle face. Climb up the steep shingle face; at the top short track leads you to join Big Hill Saddle Track. Turn left on to Big Hill Saddle Track, this is also part of the Te Araroa track that comes over from the Motatapu Track.
Follow Big Hill Saddle Track down through two beech forest areas, both have small stream crossings. The second has a large log that has been placed and is easy to cross.
Once out of the beech forest you can follow the Big Hill Track back to Eichardts flat, meet the Sawpit track and back to the Chinese Village
...OR about 500m from the edge of the beech forest you will see a big spur on your left with a single trail leading down to where the spur flattens off - follow to the bottom and you will end up back on Sawpit Gully track near the derelict hut, now named "Lesters Hut" with a homemade sign. Turn left onto Sawpit Gully Track, follow back to Arrow River and the Chinese Village. You will have a number of small stream crossings, if it has been wet you will get wet feet, the stream is known to change course and can get muddy if there's been rain or icy through winter. Enjoy!
