Distance: 3.0 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 341m to 761m. Gain: 20m. Loss: 440m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

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

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

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

From the signposted track junction at pt770, a good, cut marked tramping track drops steadily for 300m to the river. The river is crossed on a bridge, and a good, platformed track sidles the western bank downriver to reach the carpark at Putara Road. All creeks are bridged.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A good benched track leads south from Putara Roadend towards Roaring Stag Lodge / Herepai Hut. The track is not gravelled but otherwise good, easy going and all creeks are bridged.

After a long flat sidle above the river, the track crosses Ruapae Creek, and makes a steady 300m climb to pt770. This section is not platformed, but is a good quality tramping track for most abilities. A signposted marks the junction of tracks to Herepai Hut and Roaring Stag Lodge.