Distance: 3.0 km (0.7 DOC hours) - Road - Easy terrain
Altitude: 817m to 864m. Gain: 59m. Loss: 32m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Crossing the Waiau river at the head of flats (ankle-knee deep, normal flows) yopu can pick up an old 4wd track that runs down the eastern side of the Waiau from the head of flats 3km south of Waiau Hut to the Maling Pass road (St James Cycleway).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Leaving the St James Cycleway at an unsignposted junction, an old 4wd track heads up the eastern side of the Waiau for about 3km before petering out at the end of open flats. From here is is possible to ford the now-small Waiau (ankle-knee deep, normal flows) and pick up the Waiau Pass tramping track on the western bank.