Distance: 1.9 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 909m to 1560m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 651m . Gradient: 20 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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 (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

The descent sidles the southern face, and in spots is marginal without ice-axe. I'd take one.

Dropping east from Rongotea, the route is poled with a good ground trail to the bushedge. The bush is open, and the track well marked, and well cut. The track passes Wakelings hut 20m before it reaches the Waikamaka River.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The track climbs SW from wakelings hut through good open beech forest. Once above the bushline it is poled and well defined as it follows the spur east to Rongotea highpoint.