Distance: 2.5 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 632m to 702m. Gain: 110m. Loss: 103m . Gradient: 5 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Secondary, mapped (3/5)
Formal route, on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Return to the 'main' ridge track, through a lovely flat glade of tree ferns & continue south through an un-named bush saddle. 10 minutes from the junction you pass a large felled tree on your right-hand side. The track swings briefly SE after 20 minutes from the junction, before continuing south & skirting just to the east of Tawai (713m). Atop Tawai is an old red national park sign. The Otamatuna Ridge Track then passes through lovely groves of ground ferns & a large animal trap. It eventually meets a track from the west that begins near the Lions Lodge on Matahi Valley Rd & via Ngutuoha Stream & pt. 606. This junction is 75 minutes from Te Mapou Hut. 30 minutes later the Otamatuna / Koaunui track junction is reached atop pt. 661. The Otamatuna Ridge Track continues south & the Koaunui Track heads E-NE down to the junction of Waiiti & Waiohinekaha streams & downstream to Koaunui Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description