Distance: 4.1 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 142m to 539m. Gain: 540m. Loss: 166m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills:

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

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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 Mikonui Flat Hut, head briefly east up the flats from the hut, picking up markers / tape climbing SE into the bush after 150m. The cut/marked track climbs onto the low spur to the south of the hut before dropping to flats in the lower Tuke.

In low flows it will be faster to drop to the river before the swingbridge and follow the true right bank upstream, crossing to the true left for the start of the climb to Truran pass where the open flats become scrubby.

In high/normal flows, cross the swingbridge to the west bank, and follow the steep, slow sidle track south up the valley - dropping eventually to scrubby flats shortly before the forks.

The track to the pass climbs the spur north of Truran creek, and the start is well marked (2020) with a large triangle. One small stream is crossed 200m before the saddle - but is often dry. There is no other water between the lower and upper Tuke except at Dickie Spur Hut.

The track junction at Truran pass is marked only with permolat (no signpost) and the turnoff to Polluck Creek was obvious (2020).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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