Distance: 5.1 km (3.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 224m to 578m. Gain: 444m. Loss: 97m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

From Belltown Manunui Hut, the Wangapeka Track continues up the northern bank of the Little Wanganui, entering the mountains. The following track to Wangapeka Biv has suffered badly in the 2014 Cyclone Ita, and many slips and windfalls affected the track. The track has been well cleared (2016) but is far rougher than it was.

After 1.5km, after crossing Smith Creek, the track climbs steeply and sidles 100m above the river, returning to the valley floor 1km later. Do not be tempted to follow the old riverbed track on the southern bank - marked with pink markers / tape.The river has severely undercut the banks here, obliterating the old track on the south bank, and resulting in very unstable boulder slips to cross if you follow the riverbed.

A swingbridge 5 minutes up Tangent Creek provides high-river crossings, but the creek can be crossed with dry feet where the track hits it in low-normal flows. Note that the turnoff 1km later up Kiwi Creek to Johnson Hut is neither marked nor signposted.

Continuing up the Little Wanganui, the track gradually improves as the storm damage is left behind, crossing eventually to the southern bank via a swingbridge. The turnoff to Wangapeka Biv is 500m beyond the bridge - the 2-bunk biv is a short 200m walk up the sidetrack.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Wangapeka Biv the Wangapeka Track descends the Little Wanganui River, soion crossing to the northern bank. The area has suffered badly in the 2014 Cyclone Ita, and many slips and windfalls affected the track. The track has been well cleared (2016) but is far rougher than it was.

The turnoff up Kiwi Creek to Johnson Hut is passed after 1.5km, and is not marked or signposted.

2.5km from the biv, the only large side creek is crossed: Tangent Creek. A bridge has been installed 5 minutes upstream, but the river can be crossed with dry feet in low flows. Soon after the track climbs and sidles the northern face 100m above the river.

Do not be tempted to follow the old riverbed track on the southern bank - marked with pink markers / tape.The river has severely undercut the banks here, obliterating the old track on the south bank, and resulting in very unstable boulder slips to cross if you follow the riverbed.

The high track drops back onto riverside terraces at Smith Cfreek and follows the river a further 1.5km to Belltown Manunui Hut.