Distance: 14.4 km (4.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 93m to 339m. Gain: 291m. Loss: 45m . Gradient: 1 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

The best-looking route over to the Waikura is up the spur 2.5km due east of Taumaoteawhengaiao highpoint. That makes for an 11km riverbed walk up the Kopuapounamu to the base of the spur (opposite pt478). The route is entirely in Queen’s chain to the park boundary, and then Raukumara forest park beyond. The riverbed is broad and shingle as far as the park boundary. In places 4wd tracks exist on the south bank, but trees have been felled across many making the riverbed a faster option. Banks are a mixture of pines, native bush and post-forestry devastation. A private hut sits on the north bank a couple of km before the park boundary. Solid, but no beds.

Beyond the park boundary the gradient increases and the riverbed becomes more rocky. However it’s still good going all the way to the base of our selected spur. The head of the valley is visible ahead – steep, sheer slips from ridgeline to valleyfloor, precarious knife-edges of bush separating each gash.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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