Distance: 3.4 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 198m to 271m. Gain: 34m. Loss: 98m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

From the junction where the southern Otamatuna Ridge Track meets the Otapukawa Stream, continue heading downstream, crossing the stream as & when required. The stream bed is wide & relatively easy going, albeit hard underfoot compared to the bush track along the Otamatuna Ridge. In 1 hr one arrives at the Tauranga River & the Matahi Valley Road end.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the end of the Matahi Valley Rd head up the bed of the Otapukawa Stream, crossing it as & when required. Travel is easy in the mostly wide stream bed, albeit hard under foot. The track up the Otamatuna Ridge is on the true left at a prominent bend in Otapukawa Stream. It is not far beyond where the Mangaone & Otapukawa streams meet. The sign indicating the ridge track is up on the bush terrace tucked-in beneath overhanging branches, however it is visible from the bed of the Otapukawa Stream.