Distance: 4.4 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 917m to 1161m. Gain: 265m. Loss: 26m . Gradient: 4 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

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

It's a ling climb from the Centre Creek track to the Diggers Hut turnoff along the exposed Takapari Road. The trip takes you out of the tall regenerating bush, into low scrub dominated by cabbage trees and toetoe. Shortly before the Diggers Turnoff the buish is left behind, and you enter the continuous leatherleaf tops of the southern Ruahines. The low scrub gives good views north up the range. The Diggers Hut turnoff is signposted and there's space for a couple of vehicles to park. It is generally possible to get this far in most 2WD vehicles.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Passing the Diggers Hut track, Takaparui Road starts to descend in a series of short bursts towards the plains below. This section starts on leatherleaf tops, but soon enters low mixed scrub. Cabbage trees become more common, and soon a tall mixed regenerating scrubby bush stratum is reached. The road follows the escarpment above Centre Creek, with views of the ranges to the north. Further down, lone tall mature totora are the only remains of the forest that covered these slopes prior to logging. By the time you reach the Centre Creek turnoff the views are gone and you are in tall regenerating bush. The turnoff is easy to miss, and comes shortly after an old fire dam on the right.