Distance: 3.4 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1221m to 1409m. Gain: 293m. Loss: 311m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

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

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

From the Daphne track junction, drop west on a route to the saddle at the head of the Tukituki. This 200m descent and ascent is thick with tall tussock / low leatherleaf and can be a bit of a scrub bash.

Once on the next ridge west the poled route runs along the ridgeline NE to Howletts Hut. The leatherleaf is still present, though sparser than at the saddle. The route is not cut, but a good ground trail exists. A signposted track junction 50m before Howletts marks the top of the northernmost of the three tracks down to Daphne.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Howletts, follow the ridgeline SW passing the turnoff to Daphne after 50m. The route is not poled or cut. The ridgeline is scrubby, but the track fairly well defined as far as Taumatataua. Prior to reaching the next highpont (pt`1431) the route swings SE off the ridge, dropping 200m to the saddle, then climbing a similar distance up the far side to the next ridgeline. This section is thick with low leatherleaf and can be a bit of a scrub-bash.

A signpost located where the track hits the ridgeline (400m west of pt1271) marks the track junction with the track dropping NE to Daphne.