Distance: 2.2 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 378m to 921m. Gain: 549m. Loss: 50m . Gradient: 16 deg (Steep)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Steep (difficulty: 5/5)
Steep climbs of >1000m

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

It's less than 2km from the Centre Creek turnoff from the Pohongina Track to Takapari Rd, but it is a slow, hard climb.

LEaving the Pohongina track, you take the lower fork down towards the river. Wilding pines have been felled across this section of tarck, all-but obliterating it in places. Through the vague section it sidles roughly level, dropping soon after once back in bush to reach the river 100m downriver from the Centre Creek confluence.

The river is unbridged and may be uncrossable after rain.

Crossing the river at the confluence, you head 50m up Centre Creek and loo for DOC triangles just upstream of a bluff on the south side. The track climbs the eastern side of this bluff onto aa small terrace where Centre Creek Biv once stood. The track then sidles back west at this altitude, crossing a small side creek before starting to climb. This section is badly marked and hard to follow.

After crossing the unnamed sidecreek, the track heads straight up the face, appearing little more than a slip-chute in places. This is steep climbing, hauling yourself up with what vegetation you can find. A couple of brief sidles west add to the confusion, but the track becomes better defined as you climb. The spur also becomes more obvious, and eventually you are walking up a well work track up the spur. The climb goes on for ever. The end when it comes is sudden and unexpected - from steep climb through tall bush to flat ground, toetoe and regenerating scrub. Takapari Rd is 50m further SW.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Takapari Road the track heads briefly NE across the remains of the tops, before dropping precipitously towards the Pohongina/Centre Creek confluence. It's steep and becomes increasingly crumbly towards the bottom. Shortly before the river the track reaches / descends a small side creek. The official route then sidles east onto a terrace where Centre Creek Biv once stood, dropping to hit Centre Creek 50m above the confluence. This section is overgrown and hard to follow. It may be easier to drop down the small sidecreek to the river.

The river is unbridged and may be uncrossable after rain.

Heading downriver the track starts again 100m below the confluence on the northern bank. It climbs steeply and briefly before sidling downriver. The track soon crosses a section of felled wilding pines which has obliterated the rack, and it can be hard to pick up again on the far side. The track enters and leaves this section at roughly the same altitude.

After the felled pines it;s an easy 500m sidle to the junction with the Pohongina RIver track.