Distance: 1.4 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1460m to 1526m. Gain: 103m. Loss: 127m . Gradient: 9 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) 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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

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

The ridgeline swings SW from Te Atua Mahuru towards Maroparea highpoint, crossing a broad saddle dotted with tarns. The route in unmarked but easily followable on the identifiable ridgeline.

The junction of the route to Maropea Forks Hut is not marked with a signpost, but is at the Maroparea highpoint.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The ridgeline swings NE from Maroparea towards Te Atua Mahuru highpoint, crossing a broad saddle dotted with tarns. The route in unmarked but easily follow-able on the identifiable ridgeline.

2018 - a section of speargrass is found southern slopes of Te Atua Mahuru, initially this may be bypassed on the western side, but once the exposed ground runs out, it's a bit of a self-navigational wade to avoid the worst of the bushes. Some patches of thick tussock (wading) also exist in places.

The junction of the route to Colenso Spur and Barlow Hut to the east is marked with a signpost on the summit.