Distance: 2.9 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 558m to 790m. Gain: 42m. Loss: 274m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

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

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

The Makaretu Hut track is not shown on new topo50 maps, but is signposted off the Apiti Track. Starting 150 east of the Apiti-Track / Cattle Creek Hut junction the cut, marked track drops north down the obvious spur to the forks at the head of the Makaretu.

From here, continue down the river - an unmaintained, intermittently marked track exists on the true left bank but is not cut or obvious in places. The river itself is manageable, and probably easier than hunting for old track markers. Makaretu Hut is on the true left, above the forks shown on the map. The route out of the river is marked with triangles.

The river is 2-4m wide and easy in good dry conditions (can be slippery), but becomes impassable after rain (as does the other fork at the hut).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description