Distance: 3.6 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 197m to 309m. Gain: 50m. Loss: 160m . Gradient: 3 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

Below the Diggers / Forks confluence the Makawakawa valley broadens and flats appear beside the stream. The riverbed becomes broad and shallow, and for a while ytravel is easy and fast on the banks. However, thick invasive scrub, principally of buddleia soon takes over every available space and you are forced back into the riverbed. However, the river is gravel, not rock, and providing the flow is low and you don;t mind wet feet, it is easy going (for a river).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Between the road bridge and the Diggers / Forks confluence the Makawakawa valley is broad and flats are present beside the stream. Thick invasive scrub, principally of buddleia covers every available space and you are forced into the riverbed for the first 1.5km. However, the river is gravel, not rock, and providing the flow is low and you don;t mind wet feet, it is easy going (for a river).Later the banks become more open and some travel on grassy flats is possible up to the Diggers / Forks confluence.