Distance: 1.8 km (0.7 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 602m to 651m. Gain: 59m. Loss: 108m . Gradient: 5 deg (Gentle)
Skills:

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 (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

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

From the bridge at Taumutu Stream, the Central Whirinaki cycleway continues down the Whirinaki, sidling it on the eastern bank. The track is benched and on an easy gradient - climbing gently to sidle high above the creek. The track is frequently cut into solid rock faces, other time benched on steep dirt slopes - clearly a deal of work went into constructing it.

The track drops to the valley floor at Central Whirinaki Hut, which sits at the back of large flats.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Heading upriver from Central Whirinaki Hut, the benched cycleway climbs steadily then sidles the valleyside some distance above the river. A few small side creeks are crossed on small bridges. After 1.5km the track and valley swing east and a long wooden bridge carries the track over Taumutu Stream. The junction for the route up Taumutu to Upper Whirinaki / Mangamate is on the northern side of the bridge, and is not marked or signposted.