Distance: 3.1 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1303m to 1402m. Gain: 110m. Loss: 142m . Gradient: 5 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

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

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

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

Leaving the poled track at pt1380, the Ngamoko Range route heads generally south along the summit of the range. A faint ground trail is present at first through tussock, but soon fades. Leatherleaf soon appears - low and sparse and avoidable until the climb to Whaingapuna - where it becomes thick and knee deep.

The ridgeline swings briefly ESE at Whaingapuna before resuming its SW direction 100m later - tricky to spot the 2nd turn in poor visibility. Conditions are now scrubby through continuous leatherleaf - rising to waist high by the next saddle south. The climb to pt1350 is a scrubbash - things are best on the western face, but you still need to regain the ridgline for the track junction on the summit.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From pt1350 the Ngamoko ridgeline heading NE is scrubby with waist deep leatherleaf. Travel is best on the western side to the saddle, then picking your route up the next climb on the ridgeline. Swinging WNW then NE again over Whaingapuna, the scrub becomes lower and sparser, and by the next saddle north is no longer an impediment. The last 1.5km to pt1380 are through tussock, and a faint ground trail appears making travel easier. At pt1380 you hit the poled Shorts Track climbing from Limestone Rd to the east and continuing north along the Ngamoko Range.