Distance: 2.9 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 572m to 1093m. Gain: 587m. Loss: 229m . Gradient: 17 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the Wangapeka Biv turnoff, the Wangapeka Track climbs steadily beside the creek towards the saddle for 1km before zigzagging up the face then climbing steeply for the last scrubby 100m to the tarns. The second tarn is in a tussock basin and has good, if limited camping possibilities. South of the saddle, the track drops steeply for 200m to reach the large tussock clearing at Stag Flat. Stag Flat Hut (emergency shelter) is 200m west along the board-walked track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Stag Flat Hut, the boardwalked track continues briefly west across the marshy flats before swinging north and climbing steeply. Though steep, the climb is brief and well marked and the Little Wanganui Saddle is reached just 200m above the flat. Beyond the pass, a tussock basin containing a tarn provides good camping and water.

Beyond the tarn, the track drops steeply at first: loose stones over clay. before sidling into mature beech forest on the valleyside and zigzagging down to the creek. Following the main creek down on the southern bank, a signposted turnoff to Wangapeka Biv is reached 2.5km from the pass. The two-bunk biv is just 200m south up the signposted track.