Distance: 3.1 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 797m to 1560m. Gain: 823m. Loss: 60m . Gradient: 17 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

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

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

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

From Crow Hut, cross the swingbridge and follow the track upriver. The track drops into the riverbed to sidle below bluffs - this section was in-water when I visited with a bit of meltwater around, could become impassable after heavy rain. Sidles, if possible, looked scrubby.

After crossing the 1st sidecreek upriver, triangle mark the start of the track proper. This climbs east up the spur upstream of the sidecreek. A steady climb through mostly open bush - good going to the bushedge.

Above the bushedge, the track emerges onto a narrow, steep, exposed spur. A couple of very steep sections were tricky in soft snow, and an ice-axe at a minimum was required in winter. Once above the scrub the spur gradually becomes wider and the potential falls recede.

Attaining the summit of the Mokai Patea plateau you find yourself on broad tops of tall tussocks. Occasional warratahs give hints of where to go, but the track has little or no ground trail. For those heading towards Wakelings or Rongotea highpoint, swing SW for 500m along the untracked tops, pass a small tarn and climb to the rounded summit of Rongotea.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Rongotea highpoint, drop NW along untracked tops passing a small tarn. Occasional warratahs exist, but the track is not well defined. After 500m the ridge broadens to become the Mokai Patea plateau. Round the head of the 1st southern sidecreek, and get onto the spur. Once on this you will pick up a good ground trail and frequent markers. The track is cut through scrub but very steep and exposed above the bushline. A fall would be bad, and an ice-axe at minimum is recommended in winter.

Once in the bush a good track runs down the spur to meet the Kawhatau River 300m above the hut. Sticking to the true right, round below some bluffs in the riverbed, and pick up the track again on the true right bank. This climbs and sidles, before crossing the river to the hut over a swingbridge.