Distance: 7.1 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 100m to 227m. Gain: 228m. Loss: 102m . Gradient: 3 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

From the carpark by the bridge at the start of Poads Road, head 200m downriver on the eastern bank for some 200 to the confluence with the Makaretu Stream. This section has Queen;s chain an is publicly accessible.

From the confluence, head up the Makaretu Stream. The first 1km is up grazed, grassed river flats. There is no Queen's chain, nor is the Riverbed LINZ owned, and as such permission of the landowner should be sought.

Leaving farmland, the river enters a 1km long bush-clad gorge, though farmland continues on terraces above. Travel is, for the most part, in the riverbed which is flat, broad on rounded river stones. Crossings are knee deep in normal flows.

On entering the park proper, broad flats and terraces open on both sides of the river, with beautiful, mature open bush. A network of traplines criscrosses this area, at least one of which intersects with the Waiopehu Hut track north of the 6 disk track junction. However, for travel upriver, the riverbed remained the best option. The flats last for about 1km, before another gorge is reached.

The 2nd gorge is continuous for some 2km, and is tighter and trickier than the first, though still reasonable if slow travel. A number of deep pools require short scrambles on the steep valleysides to bypass - or a swim if you prefer, but nothing technical. Pools aside, crossings remain knee-to-thigh deep in normal flows.

The second gorge passed, the valley open to a small flat, at the base of the stream draining pt690. At the lower end of this flat, on the far eastern bank a short track leads through scrub and toetoe to another flat grassy clearing where a good, well-used camp spot exists with bench, fire ring and a timber frame to hold a tarp.

From the first small flat, the gorge returns for a few hundred meters of reasonable riverbed travel before the valley suddenly opens to a long, broad grass and toetoe flat which continues for the next 2km up the Makaretu. Travel is easy on the broad banks with well-trodden tracks through sections of toetoe and manuka.

After about 1km, a cut, blazed track on the western bank cuts through a bank of scrub to the confluence of the stream draining pt577. Here, in a small clearing, you'll find the old Makaretu Tent camp - and a convenient picnic table.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Below the Makaretu Tent camp, good trails run down the river flats cutting through sectrions of toetoe and manuka. After about 1km the upper gorge starts. T

200m below the main flats, another small flat lies at the foot of the stream draining pt690. At the lower end of this flat, on the far eastern bank a short track leads through scrub and toetoe to another flat grassy clearing where a good, well-used camp spot exists with bench, fire ring and a timber frame to hold a tarp.

Below the small flat the river reenters the gorge, and remains gorged for the next 2km. This is, in places, a tight valley, though still reasonable if slow travel. A number of deep pools require short scrambles on the steep valleysides to bypass - or a swim if you prefer, but nothing technical. Pools aside, crossings remain knee-to-thigh deep in normal flows.

After 2km of gorge, flats and terraces open out on either side of the river, and mature, open, beautiful bush. A network of traplines criscrosses this area, at least one of which intersects with the Waiopehu Hut track north of the 6 disk track junction. However, for travel downriver, the riverbed remained the best option.

Passing out of the park, the river enters a 1km long bush-clad gorge, though farmland continues on terraces above. Travel is, for the most part, in the riverbed which is flat, broad on rounded river stones. Crossings are knee deep in normal flows.

The final 1km to the Ohau River is over grazed grassy river flats. There is no Queen's chain, nor is the Riverbed LINZ owned, and as such permission of the landowner should be sought.

From the confluence, a 200m stroll remains up the east bank of the Ohau (Queen's Chain) to the pipe bridge roadend at the start of Poads Road.