Distance: 4.4 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1056m to 1344m. Gain: 564m. Loss: 510m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

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

Ice axe at minimum in snow - steep, narrow ridges and exposure to falls

The marked route continues down the broad northern face of Mangahuka and onto a narrow ridge. There are with brief steep climbs to Simpson (1174m) and Wright (1196m) before the ridge broadens again for a long but easy climb up a broad tussock face onto Aokaparangi.

Two junctions are present on Aokaparangi. The first is reached 100m before the summit, and is with a cairned route dropping SSE to Aokaparangi Hut - a biv on the bushline below. The second junction is on the highpoint, and has a poled route dropping east to Mid Waiohine Hut in the valley below. Both junctions have signposts, but both are frequently missing - this is a windy, exposed spot.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The marked route continues along the narrow ridge with brief steep climbs to Wright (1196m) and Simpson (1174m) before the ridge broadens and climbs to the tarn at the new, cold, draughty Maungahuka Hut. Leatherleaf is present in the saddles but the track is well cut.