Distance: 3.1 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1202m to 1450m. Gain: 253m. Loss: 302m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From Venison Tops the track drops steadily on a narrow ridgeline, through mature bush to reach the first saddle some 300 vertical meters below. It then climbs again 100m-or-so to cross each of two intermediate nipples above the low ridgeline. Beyond the third saddle, the track makes a final, steady 200m climb to reach the bushedge at 400m south of the Mangaturutu Junction. It’s a well marked, well cut track, and I shouldn’t complain, but there’s a lot of up and down for just four horizontal kilometers.

The turnoff to Mangaturutu Hut / Te Puni Hut is signposted on the flat summit.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction at the summit above Mangaturutu, the poled track to Venison Tops runs south over the open tops – easy going for 500m, when the low saddle(s) to Venison Tops open out below you. The track drops to a narrow ridgeline, losing 200m to the first saddle, climbing again 100m-or-so to cross each of two intermediate nipples above the low ridgeline. Beyond the third saddle, the track makes a final, steady 300m climb to reach the bushedge at Venison Tops Hut. It’s a well marked, well cut track, and I shouldn’t complain, but there’s a lot of up and down for just four horizontal kilometers.