Distance: 1.5 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 498m to 672m. Gain: 70m. Loss: 190m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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 Twain Hut turnoff, the track follows the ridgeline west before dropping to the Mangawai Stream 200m above the hut. Follow the stream downriver for 200m (small, crossing no issue) and pick up DOC triangles on the true right bank climbing to the hut 100, away.

The route was once a cut track but is now little more than a marked route with a reasonable ground trail.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Mangaawai (Saddle) hut, a marked track drops north to the river. Follow the stream upriver for 200m, passing a small sidecreek on the east bank. Soon after, DOC triangles mark the start of the track to Apiti Hut. This climbs a spur to the ridgeline 200m above which it follows east towards Apiti.

The route was once a cut track but is now little more than a marked route with a reasonable ground trail.

The turnoff to Twain is reached after 1.5km, and is marked by two yellow triangles on the summit of a highpoint.