Distance: 2.9 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 258m to 660m. Gain: 58m. Loss: 456m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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 (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

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

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

From the signposted track junction the track to Koaunui Hut cuts briefly SE before finding the spur and following it east then NE to the river. The track was overgrown in places (2015) but well marked. A long, gentle descent, hitting the river at the forks with the Waiohinekaha Str.

Follow the riverbed downriver 300m on gravel / grassy flats until triangles appear on the eastern bank. A cut marked track cuts off the large bend in the river, heading due north to rejoin the river at Koaunui Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Follow the cut marked track south from the hut, rejoining the river 500m later. Cross the creek (ankle deep in normal flows) and follow it upriver to the next forks where the Waiohinekaha Stream joins from the west. A signpost marks the start of the track climbing SW to the ridgeline.

A well marked track climbs SW, suffering from windfall in places (2015). The track junction with the Otamatuna Ridge Track is reached at the summit and is marked by a signpost.