Distance: 11.2 km (9.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 574m to 1066m. Gain: 955m. Loss: 601m . Gradient: 8 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

minor (5/5)
A viable route, not widely used

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

In good weather, the Hump ridge offers straightforward travel on a wide, gently undulating, tussock-covered ridge, with frequent tarns (mapped and unmapped, though in later summer conditions some of these water sources may be dry). There is a faint boot path. Limestone tors are encountered until approximately Pt. 992, after which the ridge becomes bluff-y and steeper on the eastern side. Stick to the gentler western side. Knobs are not often rocky, but are easily sidled if the up and down becomes tiring. Note there are no water sources along this route from south of the Hump until a stream crossing at the very end; fill up at one of the tarns on the ridge before beginning the climb over the Hump.

After passing above the bluffs north of Pt. 1033, the poled route of the Teal Bay-South Coast Track slides into view. Descend to join the poled route and follow as it climbs through tussock and some light scrub to the Hump (1067m).

From Pt. 1006, an unmarked route along a forested ridgeline offers a shortcut to Pt. 645 on the Teal Bay-Hauroko Track. For those continuing on to Lake Hauroko, following this ridge saves the punishing 800m descent to Teal Bay Hut and 500m re-climb to Pt. 645. At Pt. 1006, leave the poled route and follow the spur to the north down to the bushline and enter the relatively open bush. A faint boot path used by hunters follows the ridge — I lost and rediscovered it countless times. Take care as some of the knobs along the ridge have small bluffs (but these are easily sidled). There are also some impressively large boulders hidden in the bush.

Navigating the forested ridgeline is relatively straightforward until almost the very end. The only slightly dicey part comes just before the junction with the Teal Bay-Hauroko Track, between Pt. 684 and Pt. 645. Here, the ridge descends steeply to a narrow saddle with sharp dropoffs on either side, and there is a stream crossing. To the west, the stream disappears into a deep ravine, so take care. However, there was a clear boot path through this zone in December, 2025.

If you are continuing towards Lake Hauroko, note that this stream is the last water source on the track until Second Bay.