Distance: 2.1 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 836m to 1297m. Gain: 106m. Loss: 566m . Gradient: 19 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

Cross the Maropea River at the hut (ankle-knee deep and an easy crossing in normal flows. Large catchment - could flood). Pick up the marked, signposted track opposite climbing north. A steady climb to the ridgline, then an undulating kilometer WNW towards Puketaramea highpoint. Track is on border of clear tops, and suffered from tall grasses and windfall (2009). A signposted track junction is reached 100m before Puketaramea highpoint with tracks north to Unknown Campsite / Colenso Hut, and west to Otukota / Iron Bark huts.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction 100m west of Puketaramea, follow the marked track ESE along the ridgeline, initially the track drops sharply, then climbs east over pt1293. The track swings south again before descending rapidly passing near a slip edge to until it meets the river south of Maropea Forks Hut. The hut is on the opposite bank - ankle-knee deep and an easy crossing in normal flows. Large catchment - could flood