Distance: 2.9 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 200m to 533m. Gain: 186m. Loss: 356m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

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

The track out of the valley is marked by a large DOC triangle marks the start of the track, a signpost on the opposite bank in case you miss it. The track is wonderful – a broad, platformed pack-track zigzagging its way up the face. Soft grass underfoot. Great going – our last Urutawa road. We climb to the saddle, and sidle down the next valley, crossing the creek 1km from the road. Finally, drop to a gravel road beside the river, opposite the picnic area. 200m to the west we hit state highway 2.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Heading 100m along the gravel road on the north bank of the Manganuku, a signpost points left towards Tokenui Hut. The track is good – a broad, platformed pack-track sidling the valleyside, crossing to the eastern bank after about 1km. The track climbs its way to the saddle at the valley's head before zigzagging its way down the face to the river where it ends. Access upriver is along the riverbed.