Distance: 1.7 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 205m to 363m. Gain: 50m. Loss: 204m . Gradient: 8 deg (Gentle)
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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From the Main Ridge track, the turnoff to Mt Lowry and Rata Ridge track is signposted. Taking it and climbing briefly you reach the tree-covered summit, before descending onto Rata Ridge. The track is broad, well used and well maintained and easy to follow. The descent is steady - not steep as far as the signposted turnoff to Ferny Gully track, just before the bushedge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Above the Ferny Gully Track turnoff, the Rata Ridge track climbs into mature bush at last. It is a broad track on a well defined spur, and easy , moderately gentle climb towards Lowry. Occasional pest-control track cuts off this section of track, marked with dots, and should be avoided unless that's really where you want to go.

After a short steeper section, you reach the summit of Lowry - nothing to see but bush - and descend a few meters NW to join the Main Ridge Track, where at last there are views down over the Wellington Harbour.