Distance: 1.9 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1193m to 1316m. Gain: 280m. Loss: 239m . Gradient: 16 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Prolonged scrambles (4/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

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

Prolonged scrambles (difficulty: 4/7)
Scramble, frequently on exposed ridges, spurs, faces

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

The most exciting and challenging section of the Tararua Main Range.

From Mangahuka follow the poled track south 100m to the summit and signposted junction (turnoff to Niell Forks). Continue along the main range, swinging west and dropping a narrow ridge to the saddle below. A couple of scrambles follow over the saddle - both roped, before you swing round the northern face of Tunui to a slight saddle between Tunui and a knob to the north. Swinging back towards the main range the poled route sidles a very steep tussock face. The face has eroded badly in recent years and is now roped across a small creekhead. This takes you to the base of the steel ladder between the peaks Tunui and Tuiti. The ladder is just that - a very long,tall ladder. We can all climb them: I've done it carrying the dog 3 times!

The tricky bit is when you get off the top. You step right off the top of the ladder, then scramble a steep rockface onto Tuiti, with large bluffs below. This section was the worst, but now has a good steel rope to hold onto.

Once on Tuiti things become easy. A standard tramp along a narrow ridgeline follows for 1km west to reach the 1st peak of McIntosh. Blue poles on the 1st summit mark the junction with a track dropping north to Penn Creek Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the route junction at McIntosh, a narrow but good ridge runs east to Tuiti. Exposed to weather, but a trampers track.

Once on Tuiti thing become more challenging. A wire rope leads you on an exposed scramble down the northern face to the head of the ladder, with high bluffs below. This section was hairy before the rope was installed, but feels OK with something to hold onto. Several parties report members 'freezing;' on this section - not for the faint-hearted.

An unnerving side-step is required to step onto the ladder (especially with a full-grown collie dog under your arm), but once on it it;s a long but easy descent to the base of bluffs below.

Back on tierra firma at the base, a roped route sidles north to a small saddle on the face of Tunui. This section across a creek-head has been scoured back to bare rock in recent years and the rope is very welcome. Once on the saddle, the track sidles the face back to the next saddle on the main range, with a couple of scrambles aided by ropes. From here we're back to walking - east along the ridgeline to the base of Maungahuka, then a brief zigzag scramble on fine gravel to the sumit. A signpost on the summit marks the turnoff to Niell Forks, and Maungahuka Hut is 150m further north along the main range.