Distance: 2.8 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 903m to 1418m. Gain: 14m. Loss: 529m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

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

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

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

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

A wide, well-marked & well cut tunnel of a track drops through a land of contorta pines as it winds its way down Mackintosh Spur. At one particular point the track climbs up & over a gnarly rocky knob. Note: the track was cleared of large amounts of windfall on 2 Aug. 2018. Lower down the spur, pines are replaced by pole-thin manuka's & the track soon emerges onto flats at the base of the range. At a track junction a stamped metal signpost announces Mackintosh Hut is 20 minutes away & 'The Lakes' car park (via the former Kaweka Hut) is to the right. Another track junction, 5 minutes later, indicates Makahu Saddle car park to the left.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Leaving the track junction, the beech gives way to manuka at the base of the hill, which is soon overwhelmed by contorta as the altitude rises. The track continues wide and well-cut: a tunnel through pines, opening to red clay-pan and rock, closing in again. Always climbing. The climb is only 450m and soon we're there where the pines stop abruptly at the summit of main ridge