Distance: 6.0 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 212m to 261m. Gain: 75m. Loss: 113m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

The trip down the Waioeka is one of the highlights of a North Island traverse. A beautiful valley of verdant, mature podocarp forest - strung with epiphytes and supporting a rich understory of nikau palms and ferns. The river is flat, flowing in a single channel down a broader bed of mostly fine gravel – great walking. Deep green pools provide beauty and great spots to cool down, but all crossings are on good, shallow gravel: knee to thigh deep.

A short track crosses the last bend before Nikau Flats hut, passing another private hut just upriver. The track is not marked, but if you miss it, the hut is visible from the river.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The trip up the Waioeka is one of the highlights of a North Island traverse. A beautiful valley of verdant, mature podocarp forest - strung with epiphytes and supporting a rich understory of nikau palms and ferns. The river is flat, flowing in a single channel down a broader bed of mostly fine gravel – great walking. Deep green pools provide beauty and great spots to cool down, but all crossings are on good, shallow gravel: knee to thigh deep.

After a narrow section and a couple of large bends, the valley opens again – major forks visible ahead. Koranga Forks Hut is obvious, sitting on a low grassy terrace beyond the forks, looking down the valley.