Distance: 5.9 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 297m to 386m. Gain: 147m. Loss: 63m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised 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

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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

From Waitewaewae Hut, follow the track upriver to the swingbridge, and cross it. HEad up the riverbed and cross back to the western side when the bank becomes undercut. Follow the western bank to the forks, then follow the Waitewaewae River upstream.

The riverbed is rocky and makes for reasonable travel in normal flows. Crossings are knee deep in normal conditions. This river will be impassable after rain. Sidling _may_ be an option, but valleysides are steep in places and it would not be fun.

At the major forks of the East Waetewaewae And West Waetewaewae, head north up the East branch for 100m to find Island Forks hut located on the first flats on the east bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Island Forks Hut, head downriver to the Otaki Confluence. The riverbed is rocky and makes for reasonable travel in normal flows. Crossings are knee deep in normal conditions. This river will be impassable after rain. Sidling _may_ be an option, but valleysides are steep in places and it would not be fun.

Ideally, cross the Otaki and follow flats on the opposite bank downstream until you pick up the track at the swingbridge. It may be possible to remain on the western bank, but there is a slip to traverse.

Once on the track, cross to the western bank and follow the track downriver for a further 300m to Waetewaewae Hut.