Distance: 4.3 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 831m to 1293m. Gain: 423m. Loss: 504m . Gradient: 12 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 good cut/marked track leads from Wakelings Hut to Maropea Forks Hut.

Follow triangles from the hut and cross the river at Wakelings (ankle-knee deep, easy in normal flows but normal caveats apply given the large catchment). Well marked track climbs steadily to ridgeline opposite, follows it for 2km and then drops east to Maropea Forks.

Hut is 50m up the eastern fork, on the southern bank. At least one crossing is required, and two were easiest. River similar size to the Waikamaka at Wakelings.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Drop to the forks, and pick up the marked track just upriver on the western bank. Rivers are ankle-knee deep, easy in normal flows but normal caveats apply given the large catchment. Good cut track runs up a spur, follows ridgeline south then drops west to Wakelings.

A second creek crossing is required at Wakelings. River is similar size to that at Maropea below the forks.