Distance: 11.9 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 377m to 619m. Gain: 518m. Loss: 276m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills:

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

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

If you walk this track south to north, the signs say ‘keep to the track, no unauthorized access to the land west of the track’. If you walk it north to south, they say ‘no unauthorized access’, period. The land is PNCC owned, and part of their water catchment area. The road forms the boundary of this area, hence the confusion over whether it is in or out of the restrictions. Either way, I’ve met quite a few people up there, mainly mountain bikers, so either a) permits are readily given, or b) no-one bothers.

There’s not much to say about the walk along South Range road. The road is a rough 2WD-standard road for all of it's length. It starts off on a steady, slow climb, but later sidles, twists, climbs and falls over several knobs and saddles. There are good views over Palmerston and the Tararua District, but after 2.5 hrs they get old. The surrounding vegetation starts as pine blocks, but rapidly becomes regenerating scrub – the area has clearly been logged in the past. Pt 622 is the high point, and the start of undisputed crown land.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

If you walk this track south to north, the signs say ‘keep to the track, no unauthorized access to the land west of the track’. If you walk it north to south, they say ‘no unauthorized access’, period. The land is PNCC owned, and part of their water catchment area. The road forms the boundary of this area, hence the confusion over whether it is in or out of the restrictions. Either way, I’ve met quite a few people up there, mainly mountain bikers, so either a) permits are readily given, or b) no-one bothers.

There’s not much to say about the walk along South Range road. The road is a rough 2WD-standard road for all of it's length. It is a slow, steady descent, with a few twists, climbs and falls over several knobs and saddles. There are good views over Palmerston and the Tararua District, but after 2.5 hrs they get old. The surrounding vegetation starts regenerating scrub – the area has clearly been logged in the past, and transitions to pine blocks as you head north.