Distance: 3.0 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1318m to 1502m. Gain: 312m. Loss: 172m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) 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

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

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

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

The ridgeline sawtooths over several small peaks south of Maroparea, climbing lastly the conical Orupu. Dropping east of Orupu you swing south to a low saddle and hit leatherleaf again - thankfully sparse. Heading south from the saddle the turnoff to Sparrowhawk is not signposted, but a few warratahs mark the route to the hut, tucked out of sight at the head of a spur 50m to the east of the ridgeline.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

North of Sparrowhawk the ridgeline sawtooths over a number of peaks.

2018 - Climb up the exposed slope north of the junction with Sparrowhawk, then from here head NE to avoid the majority of the leatherwood. A slip on the eastern face provides access to the top of the ridge. Climb up the left hand side, then part way up, across the face to the right where there is a well worn route. Once on top, work your way west around the small peaks to top Orupu. Tops are mostly tussock with interspersed leatherwood in places, but easy to negotiate. A final steepish climb through thick tussock leads to the unmarked Maropea highpoint.

At Maropea highpoint the ridge swings NE, and an unsignposted route joins from Maropea Forks hut to the west.