Distance: 10.6 km (13.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 157m to 1337m. Gain: 622m. Loss: 1800m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, hard (8/9)
Unmarked route, no clear geographic features to follow

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Tall, walkable scrub / large rocks, occasional waterfalls or gorges in rivers

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

Moir's Guide South describes the Kaherekoau mountains as offering "on the whole, straightforward and undulating travel on generally wide ridges with expansive views.” This route up Oblong Hill is the primary access to the Kaherekoau range from Lake Hauroko, and while it is straightforward in good weather, it is a long, hard slog.

From the Lake Hauroko shelter, follow the somewhat rough Hauroko Lookout Track around the lake edge and steeply up through red beech and rātā to the lookout rock near Pt. 556 (DOC quotes 3km and 1.5hrs to the lookout). On a fine day, there are stunning views of Lake Hauroko, Foveaux Strait, the Takitimus, the Hump, and the Princess and Kaherekoau Mountains.

From the lookout, it is straightforward but steep to climb through the bush to the top of Oblong Hill. The occasional bit of old permolat, faded pink tape, and a faint boot path mark a route that rises above Pt. 556. After emerging from the bush at Pt. 960, take care to favour the western side of Oblong Hill to avoid bluffs to the east. The view from the top is even more spectacular than that from the lookout now some 450m below.

From Pt. 977 on Oblong Hill, you have no choice but to undertake a frustrating 300m descent and 350m re-climb to Pt. 1023. On the descent to the saddle at Pt. 685, a line to the right side of the ridge offers slightly better travel; there is thick scrub to the left. Before dipping below the bush line, note the location of a sparsely vegetated old slip (or possibly a dry creek bed?) on the hillside opposite — this will be your goal for the climb up the other side. After the saddle, take a line slightly to the right again, aiming for the bottom of that slip. Rise through scrub to Pt. 1023, where the more open tops begin.

From here, the route undulates along a ridge with many knobs and saddles. A bout 4.5km after Oblong Hill, at a saddle between Pts. 1207 and 1223, turn left and head NW down a steep, narrow, tussock-covered spur. This spur leads to the Kaherekoau main ridge. After a 250m descent to a saddle, follow the ridge as it rises again and climb 350m to Pt. 1338 to gain the main ridgeline. Pt. 1338 is about 2km from the 1207/1223 saddle.

Oblong Hill makes for a long day. It is possible to camp at 1050m on the saddle before Pt. 1338, or, in an emergency, in some shallow gravel basins on the northern flank of Pt. 1338 (though I do not recommend this). If you can stand to go further (and still have the light), much better camping, with water, is available 1.75km further along, in the basin with the diamond-shaped tarn clearly visible to the left of Pt. 1216. The basin is very boggy but there are a few raised areas suitable for tents.

Note that water sources are scarce along the route up Oblong Hill. In late December, I encountered a few small, unmarked tarns, for instance one near Pt. 1023, one near the bushline on the hillside opposite, and one in the saddle at approx. 1050m in the saddle between Pts. 1232 and 1338. But later in the summer, these sources may be dry. Through late December, you may also encounter small snowbanks on the tops.