Distance: 6.0 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 456m to 555m. Gain: 146m. Loss: 227m . Gradient: 4 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

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

Leaving the 4WD track at the (fierce) signpost, a good tramping track heads downriver for some 300m. Here it forks with the overland route climbing west and the river route continuing downstream and soon getting into the water. About 3km of river travel follow, increasingly in the water as the valley narrows. Crossings were knee deep in moderate flows, and non challenging.

After 3km the valley broadens to grassy flats at Upokoatahi clearing, where good camping spots exist, and the overland route crosses the river route.

I continued downriver to the confluence with Te Totora Stream. The valley is now much broader and travel was mainly on grassy banks or good shingle riverbed. A short but easy gorge exists just above the confluence, which can be avoided by cutting east onto the overland track at the last eastern bend before the confluence.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Above the Te Totora confluence, the Parahaki is far smaller and more easily traveled. A brief gorge follows the confluence, but soon you reach broad flats with good travel on grassy banks or shingle riverbed. The good going continues for about 2km to the northern end of Upokoatahi clearing, where good camping spots exist.

After crossing the sidle (wet-weather) route, the river route enters a narrower valley and travel is confined mainly to the riverbed on rounded river stones. Crossings were knee deep in moderate flows, and none were challenging.

After about 3km the wet-weather route rejoins from the west and we get a track to walk on. A further 300m walk upriver brigs you to the end of the bush and the start of a 4WD track. A signposted track shortly before this point leads to Whites Clearing Lodge, which is private.