Distance: 0.8 km (0.3 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 257m to 290m. Gain: 15m. Loss: 40m . Gradient: 4 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

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

Return to the river from Otapukawa, and head north down the eastern bank. A 4WD track starts here which can be followed. The track crosses the river twice at a short gorge - knee deep and easily flooded. A forks soon follows where the Otamatuna Ridge track is signposted up the spur the the east.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the forks with the Mangone, continue upriver on the 4WD track. The track crosses the river twice at a short gorge - knee deep and easily flooded. The 4WD track ends and a tramping track climbs east onto terraces where Otapukawa Hut is located 100m from the river.