Distance: 4.9 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 104m to 639m. Gain: 844m. Loss: 309m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

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

AN old unmaintained track heads west from the Matihi Bridge to pt642. From the west end of the bridge, head through the gate and follow the river side of the willows north along the river bank (the vehicle track is =someone's driveway). The track crosses a small stream, then the large creek shown on the map. Once across the creek a rough ground trail starts up the spur. The track becomes better defined as it climbs, and markers soon appear. Further up the track used as a trapline and become much better marked.

Along the tops the track meanders with the ridgeline. Several traplines branch off the main track, marked with yellow triangles, and you need care to identify the correct track at highpoints. The track junction at pt642 is marked by a red wooden signpost.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From pt642 an old unmaintained track heads east to the Matihi Bridge. Along the tops the track is used as a trampline and is well marked - but care needs to be taken as several other traplines branch off (also marked with yellow triangles) and it is easy to inadvertently follow these. The descent to Matihi Bridge is less well maintained, and marked intermittently with orange triangles. The track becomes scrubby and hard to follow by time you reach the river. Head south along the riverside between blackberry and willows to meet the road at a gate.