Distance: 9.6 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 58m to 238m. Gain: 310m. Loss: 131m . Gradient: 3 deg (Flat)
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

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

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

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

From the Wangapeka Roadend, an old roadbed heads up the northern bank of the Little Wanganui. Sections have been washed away, and in places the track drops to the riverbed - dry - before returnig to the bank. Riverbed sections are not marked, but the exits have large orange triangles to tell yo where the track resumes.

The good roadbed swings north away from the river, crosses a low pass, and meanders through marshy regenerating bush in the once-farmed Gilmor Clearing. Gradually the roadbed fades until you are following a poled / marked trampng track up the riverside flats. The area has suffered badly from Cyclone Ita and several sections of track have been washed away - detours are cut and marked but of lower standard. Major Windfalls have been cut, forming a canyon beside the track in places.

The now-muddy tramping track finally leads to Belltown Manunui Hut, situated in a sunny clearing on the northern bank, just at the foot of the main ranges.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Belltown Hut the well-marked, well cut tramping track continues down wooded, muddy flats and terraces ont he northern bank of the Little Wanganui. Occasional riverbed sections are unmarked, but large triangles mark where the track restarts. The area has suffered badly from Cyclone Ita and several sections of track have been washed away - detours are cut and marked but of lower standard. Major Windfalls have been cut, forming a canyon beside the track in places.

The track gradually solidifies into a roadbed as you head downriver. Soon mature bush is left behind, replaced by regenerating farmland flats. The road is vehicle-sized and gravel by the time it swings north over a low saddle, before returning to the river for a last gorge. Further alternating sections of roadbed and dry riverbed follow until you reach the carpark at the end of Wangapeka Road. A telephone is located in a wooden box 300m west of the carpark along the road.