Distance: 5.4 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 298m to 1359m. Gain: 1216m. Loss: 157m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From Waitewaewau Hutm the track runs up river flats on the western bank for 300m to the swingbridge - easy going. From there the climb starts. 1000 vertical meters through mature bush. A good, well maintained track, and good going but steep. Emerging from the bush a poled route takes you over Shoulder Knob, and then climbs gently west ove tussock and gravel faces to reach Junction Knob. A signpost marks the junction with the Main Range route to Nichols Hut and Andersons Memorial Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Junction Knob, the poled route drops gently west to Shoulder Knob - soon getting out of the exposed weather. After a brief climb over the knob, the track swings WSW and starts to drop steeply. Entering the bush a cut, marked track begins. Though the descent is steep, the track is very good and - for a 1000m descent - this is good going.

You reach the Otaki River valley at the swingbridge, which you cross. Travel a further 300m sidle south down the track to the expansive Waitewaewae Hut.