Distance: 2.6 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 758m to 1383m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 625m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the marked 'Rocks Ahead Manson Tops' route, head north down an open spur to the bush line. Upon entering the bush pick up the obvious ground trail which continues descending the spur in a NE direction. The track passes through both scrubby manuka & mature beech forest. Lower down the spur, the track swings towards the east & the Ngaruroro River with the track becoming vague in places as it nears the water body. The track emerges at the base of the spur, near the biv's helipad.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The spur west of Omarukokere Biv is the main all-weather access to the hut. From the biv head east past the helipad and to the base of the obvious spur behind the hut. Both the spur and the route are vague at first, but within 200m the spur becomes defined and the ground trail becomes visible. Follow the crest of the spur uphill all the way to the bushedge. Travel starts in scrubby manuka, but soon enters mature beech forest.

Once on the open tops continue south along the spur to the main ridge where it meets the obvious, marked Rocks Ahead - Manson Tops track.