Distance: 4.6 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 563m to 884m. Gain: 482m. Loss: 360m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

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

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

Dropping to the river forks below Mangatoatoa the track heads down a crumbling ridgeline, so crumbled in fact that on my last visit it was necessary to scramble off it and head down the creek instead. It then climbs up the spur opposite – not the next one downriver, as indicated on some maps. The start of the track is marked, as is the track itself, but it has not been cut in years. Thankfully the vegetation is fairly sparse so it’s more of a route-finding challenge than an actual bush-bash. The climb is only 200m, but feels like more, followed by more smaller ups and downs on the long meandering ridgeline before descending to the next creek - after which we repeat the whole sequence again. This time markers are sparser and it’s very easy to lose the track both on the climb, and where it leaves the ridgeline. Good map & compass work (or a good nose for tracks at least) may be required to locate the track in places. Finally, after crossing a third stream, the track climbs yet again to emerge in the large short-cropped clearing at Makomako Hut, carpeted by deer-pellets.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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