Distance: 7.5 km (6.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 627m to 1540m. Gain: 1593m. Loss: 952m . Gradient: 20 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

The track is marked and/or obvious through to the saddle beyond Yuletide Peak. From there, the route is cairned but not always obvious.

From the Anatoki Forks Hut, a short walk brings you to a junction with the Waingaro Loop - go right to the Anatoki River crossing point - this will be impassable after rain. Once across, a steep and relentless climb begins through beech until the 1200m contour breaks out for views of the surrounding peaks and the Anatoki Valley.

Following the spine of the ridge, the footpad scrambles up and down the rocks and bush until dropping into the saddle before Yuletide and some welcome tarns, a good water source after a long hot climb. This is also a great campsite in good weather.

The track climbs Yuletide directly (initially slightly left of the ridge edge) for more inspiring views before dropping a little along the ridge than steeply into the saddle below The Needle. A cairn marks the start of the sidle across to the chute that leads up to the Needles Eye. The route contours across, brushing the top edge of the bushline, then pushed directly to an obvious rocky chute that climbs steeply to the Needles Eye.

From the Eye, an obvious track leads down to Adelaide Tarn. The hut is small and camping there is limited to one site but the waterfall is great on a hot day. Better camping on the TL of the outlet (which can be crossed easily).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Adelaide Tarn hut, follow the track towards the outlet and climb to the Needles Eye. Descend the rocky chute to cairns and turn right (still following cairns) and sidle under The Needle to the saddle on the ridge between Needle and Yuletide. This route is cairned although no always obvious. It touches the top edge of the bushline.

From the saddle climb the first knoll and descend a little then begin the climb to Yuletide . Although is is possible to sidle-climb to the left it is actually easier to climb to the right and regain the ridgeline which leads to the Yuletide summit.

Initially descending on the ridgeline, a small gully on the right offers an easier descent to the small tarns below. These offer a great campsite in good weather but are very exposed. Continue on the ridgeline, over several significant rocky knolls until SH1270. Here the marked and obvious track begins the serious descent to the Anatoki Forks.

At the river, the crossing is straightforward in normal flows but impassable after rain. Once across, the track continues a short distance to a junction with the Waingaro Loop. Continue left to the Anatoki Forks Hut.