Carpark and longdrop at the top end of Renfrew Road - on the park boundary. Access to Rangiwahia Hut, Triangle Hut and the Whanahuia Range.

A newly recut, benched track leads from the Rangiwahia Carpark at the end of Renfrew Road to Rangiwahia Hut. Cross the style at the carpark, and take the left hand track signposted Rangiwahia Hut. This track sidles the face, climbing gently through first beech and later low podocarp bush. The track climbs in a gentle zigzag to pass over a large slip, before descending in similar manor to cross Chamberlain Creek on a high, arched bridge. From here the gradient steepens, but the track is still good and suitable for all abilities and ages. The track continues to sidle, climbing the face into scrub, later letherleaf, and finally tussock tops. A small stream is crossed 200m before the hut, and is a good source of nice drinking water (water at the hut is from roof tanks and can get smokey after heavy use in winter).

Emerging onto the broad tussock tops, the track forks with a right turn climbing to the Mangahuia rops and the track straight-on leading 100m to the hut - just on the far side of the ridge, looking out towards Mts Ruapehu and Ngarahoe. A short track leads from the hut to pt1327 where a bench provides a lookout over the Manawatu to the coast and, on a good day, as far as Mt Taranaki.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Rangi hut, return to the track junction above the hut, and take the southern fork signposted to Renfrew Road. A good benched track zigzags and sidles gently down the face until it reaches Chamberlain Creek - crossed on a high arched bridge. Beyond the bridge the track climbs in a series of zigzags to pass above an old slip, before returning to its gentle downhill sidle all the way to Renfrew Road carpark.

A palatial (large) hut / lodge situated on the tussock Ruahine tops. Rangi has amazing views - the large deck facing north-west towards Mts Ruapehu and Ngarahoe. On a good day there are views west as far as Taranaki and south to the South Island from the viewpoint / bench just west of the hut.

The hut sleeps 15 - six in each bunk room and three more in the large kitchen. A woodburner and firewood are provided (hence the 'serviced' category). The woodshed is situated 100+ meters away up the track to the east, possibly to discourage excessive consumption. Gas cookers are no longer provided.

With easy access from Renfrew Rd this is a great 'first tramp' for many people / families, and is also popular with hunters, trampers etc aiming to get onto the tops after work on a Friday ready for an early weekend start.

Serviced Hut

Can be subject to deep snow in winter, but no exposure to falls.

From the track junction above the hut, a well-worn tramping track heads east towards the Mnagahuia Range, passing the hut's distant woodshed on the way. The track climbs very gently, gaining 280m in 3km.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track junction 400m north of the Mangahuia highpoint, a good tramping track drops gently west to Rangiwahia Hut. Sections are deeply scoured by water, but otherwise this is an easy, gentle tramp.

From the signposted track junction 400m north of Mangahuia highpoint, a poled route runs north-east towards Triangle Hut. The track drops gently to a broad saddle, before starting to climb towards the next highpoint. About 200m from the saddle the marked route to triangle swings abruptly west off the range and starts to sidle the face towards the spur which drops to Traingle Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The poled route swings SW off the spur climbing from Triangle Hut, and sidles the face of pt1635 to reach the next saddle south of the highpoint. From here it climbs gently SW to reach a signposted track junction 400m north of Mangahuia highpoint.

This track has some steep sections, and whilst ice-axe / crampons would not necessarily be required, I'd feel more comfortable with an axe / pole to self-arrest if required.

After sidling south-west of pt 1635 the poled route reaches the spur which drops to Traingle Hut, and follows it down. The tussock becomes tall, and the route is uncut and sparsely marked. The first 400m can be slow going. On reaching the scrubline, a marked, cut track resumes and drops steeply through scrub then bush to reach the Oroua Rive at the forks directly opposite Triangle Hut. The river is normally crossed direct to the hut (ankle to knee deep), and can also generally be crossed after normal rainfall by crossing two smaller forks upstream of the hut. Extreme rain, however, can make this crossing impassable.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Traingle Hut, cross the Oroua river below the forks (or cross both forks upstream is the river is high) and pick up the marked, cut track climbing the north-western spur opposite the hut. A good steep tramping tarck climbs to the bushline, where a sparsely poled route through thick tussock commences. This section can be slow going and hard to follow. Higher up the route becomes better defined and marked with a good ground trail. A low saddle on the main ridgeline can be seen to the west and the track climbs to this height before swinging west off the spur to sidle the face towards this saddle.

For those heading north to Pourangaki this is the point to leave the poled route and head north on the open untracked tops.

A renovated 6-bunk forestry hut. Door in the front wall, looking out over the forks of the upper Oroua. Wood burner, and water from the creek. A beautiful spot with an isolated feel.

Standard Hut

From Traingle Hut a riverbed route leads downstream towards Iron Gate Hut. Drop to the riverbed at the hut, and follow it through the first narrow gorge - the worst of this section. From here the river widens to broad gravel flats, though more gorged sections exist further down. This section requires many river crossings and in-river travel and pools are often thigh to waist deep in normal flows. This section becomes impassable after heavy rain.

After 1.5km, the river makes a sharp left turn, and a DOC signpost and triangles are present on the northern bank marking the start of the up and over track. It is sometimes possible to continue downriver from here, but it is deep, steep going, especially below the major confluence. The up-and-over track is the recommended route.

Heading up the northern bank at the signpost, the track starts with a brief scramble up an old slip, but soon becomes well marked and cut as it zigzags its way to the ridgeline just above pt1037. On cresting the ridge, the track turns downhill and follows it down. It is also possible to follow the ridge up from this point on an roughly marked 'up-and-out' route to Mangahuia Summit.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Just above pt1037 the up-and-over track swings east off the spur and descends in a series of zigzags back to the Oroua River, above the worst of the gorges. From here if follows the riverbed upriver for 1.5km to reach Triangle Hut. The river is gorged in places (especially just below the hut) and requires several crossings and in-river travel. The deepest crossings are normally thigh-to-waist deep in slow water, but this route can easily become impassable after rain.

From the summit of the up-and-over track, the marked, cut track swings briefly down the main spur before dropping the western face to pick up a side-spur below. The descent is steep, but well marked and cut - crossing the next sidestream west, and following it to the main river. After cutting 100m further downriver on the northern bank, the track ends above a rapid. The main Oroua River must be crossed here above the rapids - if you can't cross above the rapid then you won't be able to cross it further downstream and your only option is to head back up and out via Mangahuia or wait out lower flows (good campspots are available).

This crossing is normally thigh to waist deep just above the rapids, though sometimes swimming the pool 50m further upstream (at the lower end of bluffs on the southern bank) is safer.

Once across, head down the southern bank for 100m. The normal route crosses half of the flow again to a long thin island, which is followed downriver before recrossing to the southern bank. After a section of windfall, good bush opens up on the southern bank with unmarked tracks heading downriver. A large triangle on the river bank marks the start of the track to Iron Gates Hut, 20m beyond.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Iron Gate Hut, head upstream adjacent to the river on the southern bank on unmarked tracks until a section of windfall blocks your way. Drop to the river, and cross to the island mid-flow just upstream. Follow the island up to it's upstream end, and then cross back to the southern bank. After cutting round/through the next loop in the river, the southern bank ends at bluffs above a rapid. The Oroua must be crossed here, either by wading just above the rapids, or by swimming the pools as far upstream as you can push below the bluffs (sometimes safer as it puts some distance between you and the rapids). The crossing is thigh to waist deep in normal flows, and can easily become impassable.

Once across a DOC triangle marks the start of the up-and-over track which cuts off the next bend in the river, avoiding some serious, tricky gorges. Good campspots also exist here.

The track heads 100m up the northern bank before heading up the next sidestream, which it soon crosses. From here a steep, but well cut and marked track climbs to reach the spur just above pt1037.

From just above pt 1037 the cut track cuts east off the spur, but it is also possible to continue from here up the spur on a roughly marked route to Mangahuia highpoint.

Standard Hut

A marked, cut sidle track runs between Iron Gates Hut and Alice Nash Memorial Hut. The track crosses two side creeks, climbing back to terraces 100m above the river after each one. The Alice-Nash end is benched for about 1km, but the remainder is a typical tramping sidle track, with many ups and downs. Both sidestreams are little more than boot deep in normal flows, and it would take very heavy rain to make them impassible.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A marked, cut sidle track runs between Iron Gates Hut and Alice Nash Memorial Hut. The track crosses two side creeks, climbing back to terraces 100m above the river after each one. The Alice-Nash end is benched for about 1km, but the remainder is a typical tramping sidle track, with many ups and downs. Both sidestreams are little more than boot deep in normal flows, and it would take very heavy rain to make them impassible.

A spacious 8-bunk hut under an hour from the roadend, so very busy with young families, 'youth', hunters, etc. A separate private section is locked and used by NZDA.

The hut has a woodburner and tank water, and looks out across the Oroua Valley from high on the southern valleyside.

Standard Hut

An old (closed to vehicles) 4WD track runs from Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge to the Table Flats roadend, dropping to Umutoi Creek, which it crosses on a high-arched footbridge. There is a 100m climb on each side of the creek, but the gradient is gentle on the roadbed and this is a trip for all abilities.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

An old (closed to vehicles) 4WD track runs from Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge to the Table Flats roadend, dropping to Umutoi Creek, which it crosses on a high-arched footbridge. There is a 100m climb on each side of the creek, but the gradient is gentle on the roadbed and this is a trip for all abilities.

Head north from Apiti and turn right along Table Flat Road. The asphalt ends, but continue on gravel through a dip before turning left up Petersons Road (do not go right towards Sixtus Lodge / Glow Worm Caves). About 1km up Petersons Rd, a track turns off to the left to a carpark and toilet through a gate. This is the roadend for Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge and beyond.