Distance: 1.4 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1202m to 1421m. Gain: 219m. Loss: 54m . Gradient: 12 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7)

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

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

A cut, marked track climbs south from Top Maropea Hut. Reaching the bushedge it climbs to a highpoint where steep slips are visible to the south. This is the junction with the main range route heading south to Te Atuparapara. Following the poled track a further 500m east leads to Armstrong Saddle, where there is a small tarn, and a signposted track dropping SSW to Sunrise Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Armstrong Saddle, follow the poled route west for 500m to another small highpont. Here the poled route swings north down a spur towards Top Maropea Hut. Soon entering scrubby bush, the track is well cut and well marked to the hut.