Distance: 5.0 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 195m to 674m. Gain: 924m. Loss: 484m . Gradient: 16 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

minor (5/5)
A viable route, not widely used

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

This route is a confusion of trap lines once on the ridge so take care. The trap line to follow is No. 5 - running east over pt. 622, pt & on the northern side of pt. 605 & pt. 690. From the large grassy paddock Lances Hut sits in, head downstream (north) across broad easy-going scrubby flats. Any crossings are ankle deep in normal flows. Follow Kohuru Stream north to where it begins to swing northeast-east to meet Okura Stream coming in from the east-southeast. Walk up Okura Stream for a short distance (50-100m) & scramble up a steep spur, keeping to the east of a large slip as you climb towards pt. 622 & heading in a northeast direction.

Slightly below pt. 622 the route swings north & you hit a trap line which brings you out atop pt. 622. Turn right (east) & follow the ridge line as it swings southeast into a saddle towards pt. 605 where you will run into triangles. Note: the route does not go over pt. 605. Just below the top of pt. 605 another junction is marked with two triangles. Turn left & drop northeast into a saddle before turning right (east) & climbing over three small rises west of pt. 690. On the third of these rises swing northeast & sidle across the north slopes of pt. 690 (note: the route does not climb over pt. 690) & into a saddle where you swing east & met a junction marked with yellow triangles with XX5 (note: XX are actually two other letters). Turn left on to trap line 5 & drop into the main saddle where half way down you intersect another trap line, turn left & then right again after 20m. The first of these turns is easy to miss. Head north along the marked trap line to Omahuru Hut which is located in a basin to the west of the track. The junction is not sign posted but a cage trap may be present.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The ridge from Omahuru Hut to Lances Hut is a confusion of traplines. The trapline you need is No. 5 - running west over pts605 and 622.

Follow the marked trapline south from Omahuru Hut swinging west towards pt690. At the saddle prior to pt690 a junction is marked with yellow triangles, with XX5 (I forget the 2 letters) written on it. Turn right down trapline 5, dropping west towards the main saddle. Half way down you intersect another trapline and must turn left (south) then right (west again) after maybe 20m. The 2nd turn is easy to miss.

The trapline climbs to pt 605. Just prior to the summit another junction is marked with 2 triangles and again you turn right (don't continue to the summit) and drop NW towards a further saddle. Triangles run out at this point - follow the ridgeline NW then W to pt622.

At pt622 you intersect another trapline. Turn left and follow the new line as it heads south and then curves SW passing the head of large slips to the west, descending a steepening spur to hit the river just east of the forks. The latter section is very steep and is a 'scramble'.

Follow the river west tot eh forks and then turn south upstream. The river has broad scrubby flats and is easy going - crossings ankle-deep in normal flows. Lances Hut sits on the eastern bank at the rear of a large grassy paddock - can't miss it!