Distance: 1.5 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1316m to 1676m. Gain: 44m. Loss: 404m . Gradient: 18 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Prolonged scrambles (4/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Prolonged scrambles (difficulty: 4/7)
Scramble, frequently on exposed ridges, spurs, faces

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

The route south from Te Atuaoparapara descends a steep ridge with scree on one side and bluffs on the other. It is not for the inexperienced, and should not be attempted in strong winds.

From Te Atuaoparapara, descend south, briefly on nice tussock but soon reaching scree faces. The ridgeline is dotted with tall impassible rock outcrops, and it is necessary to sidle below these on the western face. Descent the sharp ridgeline, or the western face just below it on loose scree to the saddle below. Do not venture onto the eastern face.

One on the saddle you can breath easy. Swing SE to climb onto the bare rocky ridgeline of the next highpoint, and follow it south over pt1625. Cairns try to lead you onto the eastern face - this is a mistake - don't do it. Instead, pass pt1625, head due south for 150m, and follow the tussock spur dropping towards the Waipawa Saddle. This becomes fine scree lower down, and is good running down to the saddle. A cairn and warratah at the saddle marks the track crossing from Waipawa Forks to Waikamaka Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The route up Te Atuaoparapara from the south ascends a steep ridge with scree on one side and bluffs on the other. It is not for the inexperienced, and should not be attempted in strong winds.

From the Waipawa Saddle head NNW to pt1625 up first loose fine scree then later good tussock. Follow the ridgelien north and drop west to the saddle with Te Atuaoparapara. Now the fun begins. Climb Te Atuaoparapara up the sharp ridgeline of loose fine scree, either on the ridge or just to the west of it. DO NOT venture onto the eastern face. The ridgeline is dotted with tall impassible rock outcrops, and it is necessary to sidle below these on the western face.

It is a tough, hard scramble on loose screen with bluffs some distance below to reach the summit - where you are rewarded with extensive views, and tourists who have walked up the easy track from the north!