Distance: 3.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1158m to 1415m. Gain: 153m. Loss: 324m . Gradient: 8 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is 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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

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

From the signposted junction 500m ESE of Manson highpoint, the route to Manson Biv continues ESE along the range. Occasional poles aid routefinding, but for the most part the route is unmarked and no clear ground trail exists. Keeping to the top of the ridge swing south over pt1412 and ut east as the ridge becomes narrower and betteer defined, dropping to a beech covered saddle. The route keeps to the open northern face of the ridge for as long as possible. Just as the open grassy tops end a DOC triangle marks the start of a cut, marked track SE over the beech covered saddle. After a climb, this track emerges onto the open tops again at pt1257. Head 200m SW along the bushedge and look out for an unmarked track cutting east into the bush. Manson Biv lies out of sight, 20m into the beech.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Manson Biv head out to the open tops & follow the ground trail 200m NE to pt. 1257. Make sure to locate the orange triangle on the bush edge so as to pick up the cut & well marked DOC track that drops in a NW direction into the bush saddle. The climb out of the saddle is short but steep, bringing you to bush edge, where you skirt around the end of the bush & climb very steeply through tussock to an un-named highpoint. Once back on the open tops (800m SE of pt. 1412), follow the poled route 2km in a generally NW direction across pleasant flat tops to meet the main Manson tops poled route at a stamped metal signposted junction 500m ESE of Manson highpoint.