Distance: 5.8 km (6.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 735m to 1271m. Gain: 527m. Loss: 636m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

Descent from Fern Burn Saddle is steep & exposed and may be icy even if no snow is present. Ice-axe required and would be a good idea to carry crampons even is no snow expected when ice may be present.

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Fern Burn Hut the Motutapu Track is rougher but remains a well marked tramping track. The track makes a steady ascent from the hut, sidling the SE valleyside on a steady gradient to reach basins at the head of Fern Burn. A couple of steep, brief ascents climb to a shoulder just west of the saddle at the valley head.

SW of the saddle the track becomes steeper and rougher as it makes a steep descent into Highland Creek. This section is icy in winter and has exposed sections. At least an ice-axe is recommended in winter months.

After dropping to the the NE branch of Highland Creek (small and not an issue to cross except in extreme conditions) the track (now just a poled route) makes a steep ascent 100m up the eastern valleyside to sidle above bluffs and over a series of 3 shoulders & intervening gullies before dropping to the south fork at Highland Creek Hut.

3-6 hrs