Kaweka Ridgeline Circuit

Makahu Saddle Car park to Ballard Hut Time: 4-5 hours Distance: 10 km Track: Advanced tramping track The track begins from Makahu Saddle Car park with the choice of two spurs to scramble your way up to Dominie Hut, a basic 2-bunk hut perched at 1480m on the Makahu Spur. Assess wind and weather conditions here, Makahu Spur can experience strong gale force winds but the route becomes even more exposed from here on up, turn back and re-evaluate your intentions if weather conditions are deteriorating. Continue up the exposed Makahu Spur to reach the tops. If conditions are fine, you may want to take a detour south on the ridgeline to summit Kaweka J, the highest point in Hawkes Bay. From here traverse north along the main range (poled route) and enjoy sprawling views to both the east and west of the park. When you reach Whetu, follow the route left (west) to descend the spur, after 1km you'll see the turn off to Ballard Hut. Descend down a scree slope to reach the hut. Ballard Hut to Venison Tops Hut (Tira Lodge) Time: 2 hours Distance: 5.5 km Track: Advanced tramping track After climbing back up to the main track from Ballard Hut, the route continues to descend steeply for roughly 3kms towards and beyond the tree line to a beech-covered saddle. There is a brief respite here as the trail flattens out for about 1km before climbing back up to the Venison Tops at 1430m. Venison Tops Hut (Tira Lodge) to Rocks Ahead Hut Time: 2.5 hours Distance: 4.5 km Track: Advanced tramping track Heading South from Tira Lodge, the route ascends briefly to the highest point of Venison Top at 1490m. From this high point it's another 10 minutes along the tops before the steep descent begins to the Ngaruroro river via the ridgeline. There is a 3-wire bridge that crosses the Rocks Ahead stream just north of where the huts sits, on a grassy terrace overlooking the Ngaruroro river . Whio can often be sighted in the river and there is much birdlife around the hut. Rocks Ahead Hut to Back Ridge Hut Time: 3 hours Distance: 6.5 km Track: Advanced tramping track Departing Rocks Ahead Hut the route immediately begins to climb the adjacent spur to the one just descended. Be prepared for a gruelling 700m of steep climbing to reach the turn off for Back Ridge Bivouac, which sits 5 minutes off track. The route continues through rocky sub-alpine terrain for another 2.5km, strong winds are known to batter these ridge lines. Shortly before edge of the tree line is reached sits the junction for Back Ridge Hut, which can be found in a sheltered gully approximately 300m from the main Back Ridge. Back Ridge Hut to Makahu Saddle Car park Time: 3 -4 hours Distance: 7 km Track: Advanced tramping track The poled route up to the main Kaweka range is heavily exposed, with steep drop offs to either side. Assess windspeeds and visibility before attempting, and prepare to turn back if the weather is deteriorating. From Back Ridge Hut there are two ridges that can be traversed to reach the tops, the northern route climbs steeply out of the gully behind the hut, whereas the southern route retraces your steps back up to the Back Ridge Hut junction. There are plenty of false peaks along both routes before the final climb up to the Kaweka tops is reached. From here descend back down the way you came to Makahu Saddle car park.

Dominie Hut is a two-bunk bivvy with a toilet and untreated water Ballard Hut is a four-bunk hut with a toilet, untreated water and a woodburner Venison Tops Hut (Tira Lodge) is a standard 12-bunk hut with a toilet, untreated water and a woodburner Rocks Ahead Hut is a standard four-bunk hut with a toilet, untreated water and a woodburner Back Ridge Bivouac is a two-bunk bivvy with a toilet and untreated water Back Ridge Hut is a standard four-bunk hut with a toilet, untreated water and a woodburner

4WD vehicles are recommended to access the Makahu Saddle car park which sites at an altitude of 980m. From the Hawkes Bay head towards Puketitiri, follow Puketitiri Rd onto Whittle Rd as it climbs to the car park. Use this location in Google maps to find your way there.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .

Only permitted hunting dogs allowed.