Distance: 1.6 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 557m to 738m. Gain: 207m. Loss: 26m . Gradient: 9 deg (Gentle)
Skills:

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

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

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

From the Papanui Hut junction, 200m east of Papanui highpoint, the ridgeline swings north towards pt745. A good track follows the ridgeline north and is well travelled and well marked.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Form pt745 the track runs SSW along the ridgeline, dropping then climbing over a couple of small knobs. After 1.5km a saddle is reached just before Papanui Highpoint. The junction is not marked other than by a can of bourbon and cola. At this saddle (where the main track is running NE-SW) an obvious track drops east into the head of the western branch of Opakau Stream. Papanui Hut lies 100m down this side-track in a large clearing beside the stream.