Distance: 0.5 km (0.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 243m to 279m. Gain: 45m. Loss: 34m . Gradient: 9 deg (Gentle)
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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

On the eastern bank, opposite the base of the Pines / Te Tawa track a vague track starts and sidles south up the western face to a shoulder, and then drops again to the creek. This avoids a narrow gorge of deep pools in the streambed. The track is not well marked.

Back in the riverbed, it's only another 100m to the main forks with the Waihua. Cross the river (large, but only knee deep in normal flows. Could easily flood). 20m upriver on the opposite bank a pink Hut sign marks the track climbing 60m to Waihua Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Waihua Hut, drop north down the marked track to the river. Head 20m downstream to the forks, and cross to the northern bank (large, but only knee deep in normal flows. Could easily flood). Follow the small creek north (upstream). After 100m, marker tape and a stoat trap on the eastern bank mark the start of a brief sidle track, up the face, over a spur, and back down to the river. This avoids a narrow gorge with deep pools. The track returns to the river opposite the start of the track to Te Tawa highpoint / The Pines roadend.