Distance: 4.8 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 460m to 607m. Gain: 284m. Loss: 431m . Gradient: 9 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

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the forks, travel upstream along the Makaretu North Branch. The riverbed contains more shingle and is less slippery than the South Branch. Travel is in the riverbed - no sidle tracks. Several long shingle sections make for a nice break from being in the water. The bright orange of Awatere Hut is easily seen from downstream on the true right bank. The hut has been renovated and now has 6 bunks (the DoC sign at Moorcock says 3), and is in good tidy order.