Distance: 2.2 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 40m to 364m. Gain: 356m. Loss: 34m . Gradient: 10 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

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

Take the signposted Rongomai Track turnoff, crossing Carey's Creek, and climbing steeply up the spur opposite. The track is well marked and cut through manuka bush. The gradient becomes more pleasant, and after a while the tramping track is replaced by a dirt forestry road which climbs through pine plantation. Ignore all turnoffs right and left, following the track until it ends at the metaled Mountain Track Road.

This section of Mountain Track Road is closed to public vehicles, the carpark / public roadend is 2-3km south along the road.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Mountain Track Road, turn off at the signpost and follow the dirt forestry road NW. Ignore turnoffs to left and right, continuing down the road as it follows the spur until you run out of road and pine trees. A tramping track continues where the road ends, following the narrow spur through manuka bush before dropping steeply to the creek. The creek is small and typically ankle deep - only a risk in extreme conditions, The signposted junction with the Carey's Creek Track is 20m up the opposite bank.