Distance: 5.7 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 399m to 814m. Gain: 470m. Loss: 383m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

The Duckville track starts on the upriver side of the forks shown on the map. A zigzag track climbs to the spur, and then follows it north onto the tops. Scrubby at first, the bush becomes more open as you climb, until the ridgeline itself which has scrubby and windfallen patches. The 'track' is not cut, and appears never to have been so, but starts off well marked with a mixture of flagging tape and 40-year-old permolat. Around the highpoint the flagging tape runs out and marking become sporadic. A compass is handy to find the correct route down off the highpoints.

Dropping north down the spur into the Weramata, orange DOC triangles suddenly appear around the 640m contour, and direct you west off the spur into the western fork. Once on the valley floor, travel is down the riverbed. The banks are choked with ongaonga and impassable for the most part, and the narrow riverbed is often blocked by overhanging plants too. Full wet weather gear and 'go for it' or try and insinuate your way between the branches without getting stung. The western valleyside offers nettle-free travel, where it is gentle enough to use.

Stream crossings were ankle deep, and this section of small creek seems unlikely to become impassable in all but the worst of conditions.

Duckville Hut is 20m above the river forks on the upriver spur on the TL. DOC triangle mark at track to the hut along the upriver bushedge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Duckville Hut, head upriver. Travel was generally easiest low on the western valleyside, above the ongaonga which chokes the valley floor. Stream crossings were ankle deep, and this section of small creek seems unlikely to become impassable in all but the worst of conditions.

At the major forks, take the western fork, and look out for DOC triangles starting on the eastern bank after a few hundred meters. A steep track climbs east onto the spur. OOnce on the spur, triangle stop and occasional permolat is all you have to guide you south along the ridgeline. The track is followable, with some skill, but scrubby and windfallen sections make navigation challenging. Though shown as a track, there is no evidence that it has ever been cut, and this should be considered a lightly marked route.