Distance: 3.6 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 715m to 1419m. Gain: 754m. Loss: 51m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snow likely on tops, but once above the bushedge gradient is gentle and not exposed to falls.

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The old NZFS track has been recut in Feb 2026. The track all the way to the top is well marked and cut, no more crawling under leatherwood required.

Head upstream the unnamed creek on the true left just downstream from Gold Creek Hut, and make your way to just below the 800m contour. Here you will find pink flagging tape on the true left, marking a clear track up to Maropea and the tops. The track is initially quite steep and the ground loose underfoot as you pass through fern and scrubby bush, however the track soon levels out and makes for some pleasant travel. As you meet the ridge line continue NW through pepper-tree and stunted beech substory. 100m elevation below the ridgeline the bush clears.