Distance: 3.5 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 398m to 836m. Gain: 458m. Loss: 69m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

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

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Kiritaki Hut a good track wanders west and south before dropping into the headwaters of the Raparapawai Stream. The route down river then follows the riverbed, with increasing river flats as you go downstream. Travel is reasonable in normal flows with no crossings much more than boot deep.

After 2km of river travel, a signpost on the western bank below the 2nd major sidecreek on the western side marks the start of the track to the Mangaatua.