Distance: 5.1 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 755m to 801m. Gain: 43m. Loss: 89m . Gradient: 1 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - 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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

A lightly poled 4WD track heads north from Christopher Hut, crossing the Ada valley to the river below. The 4WD track follows the southern bank of the river 1.5km downstream before crossing to the northern bank (ford, ankle-knee deep in normal flows) and climbing onto terraces on the northern side and continuing downriver. 1km below the river crossing the poled tramping track leaves the 4WD track, cutting to the northern valleyside and sidling low on the faces into the Waiau. Once in the Waiau the track cuts abruptly east to join another old 4WD track running north up the Waiai from Ada Homestead. The track junction is signposted.

1-1.5 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted turnoff 1.5km north of Ada Homestead the rough, poled Ada Track cuts east to the valleyside and sidles low into the lower Ada valley. After about 2km the poled route joins an old 4WD far track which drops to the river, crosses it (ford, ankle-knee deep in normal flows) and follows the southern bank upriver. 2km upriver from the ford the 4WD track swings abruptly south to Christopher Hut, tucked in beech forest on the southern valley side.

1-1.5 hrs