Distance: 5.1 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 1372m to 1526m. Gain: 382m. Loss: 433m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Tall, walkable scrub / large rocks, occasional waterfalls or gorges in rivers

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

From the Colenso Spur junction, a good ground trail runs north along the narrow ridgeline, though the track is still unmarked. Several saddles and summits must be crossed, with good water available at the tarn 1km north of Ina Rock.

If you drop down into the "lake", a good ground trail exists at the north western end, saving back tracking or tussock wading to get back up to the tops.

South of Tupari highpoint the ridgeline circles the head of dangerous steep, rocky slips to the east. 2018 - The first part (southern end) of the route leads onto the top of the slips which are a bit slippery in places, but negotiable. About half way along, a clear cut trail through the vegetation exists on the western side, leading away from the largest of the slips.
Stay on the ridgeline or scrubby western side, and avoid temptation to try the east.

A bit more tussock wading before swinging west over Tupari (marked with a trig), and the ridgeline drops slightly before swinging north again. Cairns at this corner mark the turnoff the Kylie Biv, 300m to the SE down a spur.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Kylie Bic turnoff the ridgeline and route head due west, climbing over Tupari summit, before skirting the head of a series of slips above the basin to its south. The track frequently leads onto these slips which are gravel-on-rock and dangerous. Stay on the ridgeline or scrubby western side, and avoid temptation to try the east.

South of here a good ground trail becomes established along the narrow ridgeline, though the track is still unmarked. Several saddles and summits must be crossed, with good water available at the tarn 1km north of Ina Rock.

A signposted track junction on Te Atua Mahuru marks the top of the Colenso Spur track from Barlow Hut / Makaroro River to the east.