This fungus is recognised in part by its large, white to cream cap covered in light brown scales, and more obvious is its short but large-diameter rooting stalk. With a thick white membranous ring. As normal for a Cortinarius, the ring will collect a large number of brown spores. It appears that the NZ species is different from the Australian species and may represent an underscribed species.

Cap: 80-150 mm diam., convex to broadly convex, sometimes flattening with age; surface dry to slightly viscid, smooth to finely fibrillose; colour warm brown, ochraceous‑brown, or tawny, often darker at the disc and paler toward the margin. Margin sometimes faintly fibrillose from veil remnants.
Gills: adnate to adnexed, moderately crowded; initially pale ochraceous‑buff, soon becoming deep rust‑brown as spores mature; edges even.
Stipe: 40-85 x 15-25 mm, cylindrical or slightly clavate; surface pale brownish to ochre, often with distinct rusty cortina fibrils or a diffuse ring zone; base rooted, abruptly tapering into the ground. Flesh pale brownish, unchanging.
Veil: a well‑developed cortina, pale at first, becoming rust‑brown as spores accumulate.
Odour/taste: indistinct or weakly earthy.