Distance: 7.3 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 887m to 963m. Gain: 117m. Loss: 99m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills:

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

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

From the Whirinaki Roadend, follow the forestry track west toi a large, once-swampy clearing shown on topo maps, swinging south then sharply west to meet the aptly named NE/SW Main Road. Turning left (SE) along this, a low saddle is reached after about 1.5km where there is a crossroads with a minor forestry track. This is not signposted, but turning right (south) here leads 200m downhill on a rough 4WD track to the site of the former Matakuhia Saddle Hut. Here there is a carpark, signpost, intentions book, and the start of the Matakuhia valley track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Forestry roads provide the legal access through the post-logging desolation between Matakuhia Saddle and the Plateau Roadend from access to the Whirinaki Huts. HEad 2km NW down Main Road, and turn right (NE) following signs to 'Whirinaki Track'. Continue on the signposted forestry track taking the truns signposted 'Whirinaki'. A large, once-marshy clearing is passed on your left, passing through standing pines and again emerging into post-logging desolation. A final left torn leads to the carpark and roadend.