The track to Waitewaewae begins at the old Ōtaki Gorge picnic site. Cars may be left at the temporary Blue Bluffs car park on Otaki Gorge Road, from where you must cross an active slip before reaching the picnic area.

The track crosses Waiotauru swing bridge and climbs to a high terrace above the Ōtaki and Waiotauru rivers. It passes the turn-off to Field Hut and the Southern Crossing before dropping to Ōtaki River, where there’s another swing bridge with views up the river and back to the forks. After this bridge, the track climbs to regain the matching terrace on the true right of the Ōtaki River. 

After a short, sharp climb through tussock and regenerating bush, the track sidles over a huge slip before dropping to a historic logging tramline, which used to be the main route to Waitewaewae Hut. Sleepers and iron train tracks can still be found, but bridges and other structures have rotted or been washed away. The route used to follow the tramline to an old boiler engine just before Saddle Creek, but was destroyed by a massive slip. 

After 20 minutes, trail markers direct walkers off the tramline and up. And up. And up. It’s not hard, just constant, under and around fallen trees and regenerating growth. Much of the windfall has been cleared by the Greater Wellington Backcountry Network. This section sidles the western face of Waitapia (862m).

After two hours you reach a high point before the track meanders down to Plateau Saddle and the top of the old Saddle Creek route. Rejoin the old track to cross Plateau Saddle. Some 20 minutes later, after a few stream crossings, the head of the Arapito Creek is reached. The track follows its true right towards Ōtaki River in a quick 300m descent that is steep at first but mellows lower down.

The track converges eventually with Arapito Creek, where two options are presented. For lovers of dry feet, or if the Ōtaki is running high, cross the Arapito here and sidle over a 180-degree bend in the river. This route climbs an annoying 80m before dropping 100m to the well-situated and roomy Waitewaewae Hut. 

If you don’t mind wet feet and the river is running low, follow the track to the bottom of Arapito Creek then walk up Ōtaki River to the hut. Both routes take a similar amount of time.

In summer you will be sharing the hut with Te Araroa walkers and it may be busy. Take a refreshing dip in a swimming hole just up from the hut.