Distance: 1.1 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1383m to 1424m. Gain: 17m. Loss: 52m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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 the Manson - Rocks Ahead junction a poled & well travelled route heads E-NE towards Rocks Ahead Hut through what looks like a moonscape dominated by sporadic stumpy rugged knobs & waves of rocks. After 1km on broad exposed tops a narrower ridgeline forms & the track swings east, dropping 40m into a saddle, which marks the turnoff to Omarukokere Biv to the north.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the top of the Omarukokere Spur, the Rocks Ahead track climbs briefly before reaching the broad, exposed Manson tops. The route is poled & well travelled. The stamped metal signposted junction for routes to Rocks Ahead, Otutu & Manson Hut & also Manson Biv is reached after 1km.