Distance: 5.9 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 935m to 1222m. Gain: 294m. Loss: 244m . Gradient: 5 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

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

A rough poled route heads down the valley from Boyd Lodge, passing the airstrip on the western side. Poles are sporadic, and it is possible to lose the track across open low tussock.

The track crosses the Ngaruroro River (less than knee deep, 3m wide, but could flood easily after rain), and passes below a steep truncated spur of vertical river gravel. Soon beyond a metal signpost on the eastern bank marks the turn east out of the valley to Tussock Hut. This is the start of a 2m wide Kaweka 'highway' - a well maintained cut, marked track through first Manuku scrub and later beech forest. This climbs gently to the summit before dropping into the head of the Harkness and exiting the beech just above and opposite Tussock Hut, Poles lead the lad few hundred meters to the hut. 1h45-3hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description