Distance: 4.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 407m to 644m. Gain: 210m. Loss: 371m . Gradient: 7 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

Leaving the hut, the route enters the river where some bush bashing around willows etc is required. Follow the river downstream for approximately 600m until the exit for Holmes ridge track is denoted by triangles on the true left. Exit the river here, or carry on downstream via river route. The river is cold and somewhat slippery with hanging overgrowth in places. Also prone to flood after steady rain. Further downstream on true right markers can be seen for the unmaintained track which runs up to Takapari ridge (near pt 1170). Fairly easy climb onto Holmes Ridge (a nice wide grassed track along the top). Be sure to exit on the right before the road drops steeply to the east. From here a short steep drop leads to a final swift river crossing into the campsite area.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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