Distance: 2.9 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 17m to 48m. Gain: 118m. Loss: 137m . Gradient: 5 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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 Rongomai track turnoff, a good cut / benched tramping track continues down Careys Creek to the reserve at the roadend. Four creek crossings are required (unbridged) and can be shin to knee deep in normal flows. The track would be impassable after heavy rain.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the roadend a good cut / benched tramping track heads up Careys Creek. Pass the resever and then cross the creek at the signpost - the first of four (unbridged) creek crossings. These can be shin to knee deep in normal flows. The track would be impassable after heavy rain. The signposted turnoff to the Rongomai Track (to Mountain Track Road / Silverpeaks loop) is reached after 3km.