Distance: 5.3 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 743m to 1041m. Gain: 88m. Loss: 386m . Gradient: 5 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, 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

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

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

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

A poled route heads up the Ngaruroro from the airstrip below Boyd Lodge, crossing the river after 1km. This crossing is knee deep and fast in normal flows and can become impassible.

The poled route then climbs east to the bushedge, before a cut, marked tramping track takes over, crossing Waitawhero Saddle and dropping into a broad valley containing a tributary of the Oamaru. The track sidles this on terraces on the western bank.

The main Oamaru river is reached after 2km, and must be crossed (small and ankle-knee deep in normal flows). A signposted track junction for tracks to Oamaru Hut and Cascade Hut lies 100m beyond just before the next sidecreek. Good campspots also exist here.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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