Distance: 3.2 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 903m to 1066m. Gain: 245m. Loss: 276m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not 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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

Snow is possible on Waiopehu.

From Waiopehu, head around slightly to the left in the open scrub - South East initially to the left of the leatherwood and then into the beach forest. Follow the spur with occasional deviations around leatherwood and treefalls.You'll drop down into a saddle (the trail/ridge is a bit vague until in the saddle) and climb up over 975 & 970, flat travel along to 1015 and siddle along staying on the ridge. You'll see the hollow down to the right (East) of the ridge through the trees. There is an entrance at the north end of the hollow directly to the water tank (marked incorrectly on the routeguides map, but pretty obvious when there). If you stay on the ridge and get to the radio transmitters, just drop down to the hollow (mossy/damp). There is good camping on the Eastern side of the hollow.
There are occasional tapes tied to trees along the ridge - it's mostly pretty easy to follow - the only vague bit is dropping down off Waiopehu getting down towards the saddle to 975.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Head Norht from the warer tank. Follow the ridge.After 975, drop down slightly and head up the vague ridge - just go up. There may be the odd tape tied to a tree that will help. Head to the East of a patch of leatherwood acoming out of the beach towards the top. The top iof Waiopehu is open with short scrub - head across to join the track.