A sidle out of Waitewaewae (YTYY) using the OLD track. The slip section of this track will probably change fairly frequently, so tips offered below may become outdated - please update if you find a different/better solution!

From the YTYY hut, head south along the track, crossing a few side creeks until reaching Arapito Creek (approx 30 min). There is a sign here indicating direct river route to hut in low flows. From here the track sidles up and down the valley until a section at the head of the creek. Crossing and travelling slightly upstream, and recrossing (plenty of triangles to follow), you reach the junction of the new & old tracks. The new track climbs up for a hundred or so metres, while the old track heads down Saddle Creek.

The old track still has plenty of markers to follow, interspersed with sections of flagging tape. The track is not maintained, so will gradually become more difficult. After an initial drop, a slip coming in on the true left is best negotiated by staying on the left. From here the track works its way down the creek on both sides with frequent crossings. Very rarely do you move far from the creek bed. Further downstream the track exits on the true left and climbs slightly before sidling along the 340m contour. Some windfall is present, but all negotiable. Going is relatively straight forward once the old boiler is reached until the big slip (which is the reason the track has been rerouted).

We climbed up the side of the slip to the head, through a mix of tangled vegetation (supple jack) and along the very edge of the slip face. Going was ok-ish. There are some cut vines which will show you're on the right track. Curving around at the top of the slip the vegetation is slightly more open. You have two options here - wade through the thick plants below the fallen rimu, but there is a sharp drop down a steep section of bank requiring down climbing. There were some roots to hold onto, but these may not withstand a lot of traffic. Your other alternative would be to try and cross the top edge of the slip. We down climbed the bank, then walked the ledge back towards the open area on the edge of the slip, head straight down through the pungas and a hundred or so metres down you will intersect with the track. Turn left and keep following south. Easy walk out from here!

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description

Standard Hut

From Junction Knob, the poled route drops gently west to Shoulder Knob - soon getting out of the exposed weather. After a brief climb over the knob, the track swings WSW and starts to drop steeply. Entering the bush a cut, marked track begins. Though the descent is steep, the track is very good and - for a 1000m descent - this is good going.

You reach the Otaki River valley at the swingbridge, which you cross. Travel a further 300m sidle south down the track to the expansive Waitewaewae Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Waitewaewau Hutm the track runs up river flats on the western bank for 300m to the swingbridge - easy going. From there the climb starts. 1000 vertical meters through mature bush. A good, well maintained track, and good going but steep. Emerging from the bush a poled route takes you over Shoulder Knob, and then climbs gently west ove tussock and gravel faces to reach Junction Knob. A signpost marks the junction with the Main Range route to Nichols Hut and Andersons Memorial Hut.

Rounded summit south of Mt Crawford. Junction of the Waiteaewae track with the Main Range.

From the junction above Nichols Hut, the poled route continues west, climbing and falling through scrub, rock and tussock over pt 1276, pt1240 and pt1345, where it swings gently to the south, still climbing to Mt Crawford (1452m). This entire section is very exposed to the weather and can be a very unpleasent place to be. Strong winds can make this section impassable.

1km south of Crawford is Junction Knob (1375m), where a signpost indicates the descent to Waitewaewae Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track junction on Junction Knob, a poled route continues north along the Main Range, climbing Mt Crawford, and then dropping to pt1345 before swinging east. A steady descent along a narrow exposed ridgeline follows with one brief scramble. This entire section is very exposed to westerly winds and can become impassable when the wind is string.

The track drops briefly and steeply to a defined saddle between pt1276 and Nichols, where a signpost marks the turnoff to Nichols Hut 100m to the south.

Standard Hut

Leaving Dracophylum Hut, nothing much changes - the well-cut track continues to climb and fall through mossy cloud-forest and occasional scrubby peaks: pt 1033, Puketoi (1152m), Kelleher (1182m), pt1055, and pt1031 - before commencing the long and steep climb to Nichols, where the track swings sharply west. In bad weather (I had mist and horizontal rain) it is very hard to pick up the point where the track turns: a well-trodden track (presumably made by lost trampers) continues south along the ridge which then drops sharply towards the Waiohine. Nothing obvious marks the turning point - so look out for a worn track branching due west.

About 500m after turn at Nichols Peak, a signpost indicates Nichols Hut below on the left (south) side of the ridge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Returning to the ridgeline from Nichols Hut, the poled track continues briefly east to Nichols Highpoint before swining north. Dropping quickly into cloud forest the next 4 kilometers are along a cut, marked track over a series of bush-clad saddles interspersed with climbs to scrubby peaks: pt1031, pt1055, Kelleher. Just before Kelleher summit the track emerges onto open tops and swings sharply right, bypassing the summit. A good ground trail also continues straight on to the summit, and it is easy to miss the turn.

From Kelleher a scramble on the eastern face follows before returning to the ridgeline and ascending Puketoro, and finally Dracophyllum Knob, where the damp, 2-bunk biv, Dracophyllum 'Hut' awaits.

Basic Hut/bivvy

South from Pukematawai we pick up marked tracks again. On Pukematawai a DOC signpost indicates the track NW to Te Matawai Hut, and south to Dracophyllum Hut. Continuing south on the main ridge, the cut track drops and swings west scrub-line. Slight climbs are required for pt1217, pt1180 and pt1158, but the general pattern is descent until the bushline is reached. Once in the bush, however, the main ridge resumes its sawtooth norm, and climbs and falls sharply over pt 1070, pt1090 before reaching the damp Dracophyllum Hut at Dracophyllum Knob (1117m).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

North from Dracophyllum Hut, the track drops into cloud forest before sawtoothing its way north over a series of low peaks - pt1090 and pt1080. From there the pattern is of steady climb over 3 more small peaks out of bush into scrub. Leaving the scrub the final long, exposed (to weather) haul up Pukematawai. A signposted track junction 50m before the summit marks the turnoff to Te Matawai Hut.

South from Pukematawai we pick up marked tracks again. On Pukematawai a DOC signpost indicates the track NW to Te Matawai Hut, and south to Dracophyllum Hut. Continuing south on the main ridge, the cut track drops and swings west scrub-line. Slight climbs are required for pt1217, pt1180 and pt1158, but the general pattern is descent until the bushline is reached. Once in the bush, however, the main ridge resumes its sawtooth norm, and climbs and falls sharply over pt 1070, pt1090 before reaching the damp Dracophyllum Hut at Dracophyllum Knob (1117m).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

North from Dracophyllum Hut, the track drops into cloud forest before sawtoothing its way north over a series of low peaks - pt1090 and pt1080. From there the pattern is of steady climb over 3 more small peaks out of bush into scrub. Leaving the scrub the final long, exposed (to weather) haul up Pukematawai. A signposted track junction 50m before the summit marks the turnoff to Te Matawai Hut.

Highpoint and signposted track junction

Steep climb - axe may be needed if bad icing present,

A well travelled, poled track drops WNW from the signposted track junction west of Pukematawai summit. Dropping continuously and eroded/scoured out in places this is an obvious track on a stoney bed. You soon enter scrub, but the track is wide and well cut. After a couple of kilometers, still in the scub-band, a signposted track junction is reached. This is the turnoff to Mangahao Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Te Matawai / Mangahao track junction, a well used, broad, cut track runs ESE through the scrub-layer on an obvious ridge. Climbing gently at first, the gradient later increases, the track zigzagging at times as it heads up the final steep slop to Pukematawai summit. The track is well marked or poled for all its length, and though eroded in places is reasonable going.

Signposted track junction

Standard Hut

East of Te Matawai Hut the track is well marked and cut through mature beech forest. Dropping on a narrowing ridge the track reaches a saddle after about 1km. A brief climb follows to pt180, where a signpost marks the turnoff to Sth Ohau Hut via Yeates Track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From pt810, Dora Track drops SW briefly to a narrow saddle, before climbing steadily on a broadening ridgeline through mature beech forest. On reaching flat tops, Te Matawai Hut is found next to the track.

Signposted track junction on pt810

From pt810, the track drops sharply west to a low bush-clad saddle. The next 1.5km are spent climbing over a series of small knobs towards Richards Knob on an undulating ridgeline. You finally break out of good bush into scrub 200 meters before reaching the summit. A signpost marks the track junction on the highpoint.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Dropping west out of the scrub into good bush, Dora Track descends over a seris of small knobs to reach the low 690m saddle, before climbing yet again to pt810. A signpost on the summit marks the turnoff to South Ohau Hut.

Two saddles separate Richards Knob from Waiopehu. A well cut track through the leatherleaf descends 100m to the first before climbing to the memorial at Twin Peak. A second, longer descent follows, before another climb to Richards. The whole route is cut - a canyon through the leatherleaf.

A signpost at Richards marks tracks to Poads Road and Te Matawai Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Two saddles separate Richards Knob from Waiopehu. A well cut track through the leatherleaf descends 100m to the first before a long climb to the memorial at Twin Peak. A second, sharper descent follows, before another climb to Waiopehu summit. The whole route is cut - a canyon through the leatherleaf.

An unmarked junction exists on Waiopehu, with an unmarked route running south along the Oriwa Range, and the cut track descending north to Waiopehu Hut.

Rounded leatherleaf summit at northern end of Oriwa Range.

From Bush Corner, the well maintained, cut, marked track continues SSE, dropping to a saddle before climbing gently to pt790. A clearing on the summit is the old heli-pad, and the former site of Waiopehu Hut is just beyond on the eastern face, marked by a faded sign.

The tramping track continues SSE for another 600m through bush before it finally breaks out into low scrub for the final 300m to the hut. The views of both the main range to the south-east and over the coast beyond Levin are spectacular.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Waiopehu Hut, the track heads north for some 300m through low scrub before dropping into the bush, where it remains for the rest of the trip. After 1km, a low knob is crossed with the former site of Waiopehu Hut just before the summit, and a clearing marking the old helipad on the top.

North of pt790 the track descends, crosses a small addle and climbs slightly to Bush Corner. A large but faded orange blob on a tree and a length of flagging tape mark the start of the spur running west, and the route down it into the upper Makaretu.

From the 6 Disk Track junction, the Waiphepu Track continues south along the ridge. The track is well marked, well cut and well traveled, though it can get quite muddy in places after rain. There is nothing much of note on the next 4km of track, other than that it climbs gently over a series of low knobs with some small saddle in between, and can seem to go on forever.

Bush Corner is reached after 4.3km, and is the start of a route west into the Upper Makaretu. The highpoint is not obvious - one of many. A tree with a large but faded orange blaze and a piece of marker tape marks the start of the route down into the Makaretu.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Bush Corner, the Waiopehu track continues north, dropping slowly over an endless series of low knobs and saddles. No section of track is steep and the only inconvenience is mud, which can get bad after extended periods of rain, especially at times of year when the track sees heavy use.

The 6 Disk Track junction is reached after 4.3km and is marked by a signpost.

From the signposted junction, the Waiopehu Track climbs briefly and steadily , gaining 100m onto the spur to the south. The track is well marked, well cut and well used.

One on the spur, it meanders south slowly gaining altitude, before making a second, steady 200m climb to pt515 and the signposted 6 Disk Track junction. This is the steepest, longest climb on the walk, but is still easy for a fit walker.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the 6 Disk Track junction the track to the roadend drops north, steadily losing 200m before finding a gently sloping spur to follow north. Keep your eyes on the orange triangle and ignore well-used side tracks marked with dots of dazzle paint, which can confuse.

After 1km of meandering north, the track drops again for a further 100 vertical meters to hit the Ohau River track 100m before the bushedge. The junction is signposted.

A signpost at the Poads Road roadend marks the start of the track into the Ohau / Waiopehu Hut. The track is poled, and crosses farm paddocks on terraces above the Ohau River. Permission is not required, but dogs on a lead, bolts out of rifles, and all the usual rules for private land. It is an easy 1km walk to the bushedge. The Waiopehu Track junction is 100m beyond and marked by a signpost.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The bushedge is reachs 100m past the Waiopehu Track junction. From here the track continues across farmland all the way to the roadend at Poads Road.
The track is poled, and crosses farm paddocks on terraces above the Ohau River. Permission is not required, but dogs on a lead, bolts out of rifles, and all the usual rules for private land. It is an easy 1km walk to the roadend.

An easy 1km walk down the gravel Poads Road takes you from the Poads Road roadend to the Pipe Bridge roadend and the junction of Poads Road and Gladstone Road.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

An easy 1km walk up the gravel Poads Road takes you from the Pipe Bridge roadend (and the junction of Poads Road and Gladstone Road) to the Poads Road roadend where tracks into the Ohau start.