Distance: 0.9 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 156m to 179m. Gain: 23m. Loss: 4m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

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

A clear ground trail leads up the southern branch of the Ngatiawa from the signposted track junction. Follow this to the stream, cross and pick it up just upstream on the opposite bank. The track is unmarked and often faint on the ground. The track is pretty-much continuous for the first 2km upriver. It crosses multiple times and crossings are typically ankle to knee deep in normal flows. This river can flood and become impassable.

After 1km a series of clearings is reached on the southern bank. Follow these, crossing the small sidestream shown on the map, and continue upriver. 200m beyond another good clearing on the south bank is reached with the remains of campsites in it.

If you poke around the back (west) of the flat you'll find the base of an old logging road heading south up the spur to meet the Oddlands Rd.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the base of the old logging road, continue down the Ngatiawa stream for a further kilometer to the main forks. The track is unmarked and vague at times, but pretty-much continuous all the way. The river is crossed multiple times and crossings are typically ankle to knee deep in normal flows. This river can flood and become impassable.

A signposted track junction at the upstream side of the forks marks the junction with the Kapakapanui track.