Distance: 3.3 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 799m to 1242m. Gain: 15m. Loss: 444m . Gradient: 8 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Cross the rolling countryside south and west of the Acheron Lakes and descend down a steep hill through tussock and light scrub to reach the flat ground at about the 1000m contour. There is good looking camp spots here near the bush. Head southwest to over look the outlet stream of the Acheron Lakes.

The outlet drops down a spectacular gorge, mainly in the bush the whole way. Its white water from top to bottom but fairly narrow and can be jumped across in a few places. Look for an animal trail which zigzags down into the gorge to reach the true right stream bank and follow it down river on deer tails. Cross where require to avoid active slips and steep bush covered slopes. There were deer trails on both sides but I mainly traveled on the true right. The bush opens up lower down and near the main flats of the Upukerora I spotted some orange bait stations.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description