Distance: 2.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 98m to 547m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 449m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

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

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

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

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

The track from the ridgeline to the Wainuiomata River is broad, benched, and well maintained. It does, however, descend almost 500m in 2km, so its not a stroll.

Descending off the ridgeline the track sidles to the spur overlooking Skerrets Creek, and follows it all the way to the river. After about 1km, a track junction is reached, with the left turn heading to a roadend on the opposite bank of Skerrets, and the right turn descending all the way to the river.

The track comes out at the cemetery, and there is a road and carpark at Skerrets Creek. Alternatively a footbridge 100m upriver gives access to the north bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The Whakanui Tarck starts at the cemetery at Skerrets Creek. This can be reached either from the south bank of the Wainuiomata fromt he roadend or river track, or by a bridge 100m upriver from the north bank.

After sidling briefly through clay and gorse, the track begins to climb steadily towards the spur east of Skerrets. ATHe track is broad, platformed and well cut and marked.

A junction after about 1km offers a right turn cutting across the creek to houses and a road on the opposite side. Continuing left and uphill takes you up the Whakanui track towards the Orongorongo.

It's about a 500m climb to the ridgeline, so not for the completely unfit - but on a well maintained benched track is easy going otherwise.

The junction with McKerrows track is reached just as the track hits the main ridgeline and is signposted.