Distance: 5.2 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 301m to 784m. Gain: 486m. Loss: 75m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

From the start of the Pohongina River Track, follow the marked tramping track across private farmland to the Pohongina River. 400m upstream the confluence with the Piripiri Stream is reached. Follow this upstream for 3.5 rough kilometers on a steep tight stony riverbed. Banks are impassible and small waterfalls must be climbed. Conditions vary after each flood, but in early 20145 going was ok.

A small triangle marks the start of the climb to Piripiri. A tall grassy face, opposite a stand of pines provides the route up the north side of the valley, a roughly cut / marked track cutting up the face and into scrub above. The hut is about 100m above the creek and not visible until you walk into the door. Almost.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Piripiri Hut, a roughtly marked, unmaintained track drops to the river. From here follow the riverbed downstream all the way to the confluence with the Pohongina. Initially the creek is rocky and small, later larger, but still rocky. Small waterfalls must be downclimbed, and going is slow and definitely impassible after rain. River banks are either vertical, steep and loose, or tangled thick vegetation so travel is only on the riverbed. In 2014 this was a moderate difficulty route, but earlier, in 2007 nearly impassible in places due to scouring out of the riverbed. So; whilst good in 201`4, be aware that the stream changes dramatically after storms and your experience may well vary. A 4WD track half way down leads onto Piripiri station (true right), crosses private land which the cocky does not allow access across and leads directly past the farmhouse. I used this as an emergency escape after heavy rain blocked further travel and the landowner was understanding - but made it clear that the track was not for general use.

The tramping track up the Pohongina is crossed 20m before the confluence at the base of the spur on the true left. This lower section of track is not maintained and easy to miss. Heading downriver it follows the river flats through scrub before entering farmland on the true right, becoming a farm 4WD track, then ascending to the road on terraces above.