Manuoha Hut to Sandy Bay Hut Trail

This section of the track is graded as a route, not a track. The way is marked by slats on trees, but there is no formed track. This is the longest and most strenuous part of the trip. The route from Manuoha Hut to Sandy Bay Hut on the shores of Lake Waikareiti winds down around the side of Manuoha through the "Goblin Forest" (silver beech covered with moss and lichen). Twenty minutes from the hut the route passes onto a ridge system that eventually leads to the Pukepuke Range, after crossing the sources of the Waiotukupuna and Te Kei Streams and the Mokau River. This ridge is wide and has a canopy of beech with a coprosma and rice grass understory.

There are views of Lake Waikareiti and glimpses of Kaipo Lagoon at different points along the route. About 5 hours from Manuoha Hut, the route veers to the right and descends to the Kaipo Lagoon. From the lagoon there is a well defined track down to Sandy Bay Hut. The track meanders past Sopps Hollow, Lake Henrietta and the Clay Patch which along the lagoon, make up "The Tundra".

Two hours along this track will take you to the Waikareiti Track junction, with a further 5 minutes to the Sandy Bay Hut. This hut has 18 bunks and a gas heater but bring your own cooking stove (bookings are essential for Sandy Bay Hut - contact Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre). Sandy Bay is large and shallow, ideal for swimming.  

Directions
The directions in this guide take you from the true right of the Waiotukupuna Bridge (SH 38), 16 km west of the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre. The walk is 32 km long and takes approximately 18 hours walking time, with two overnight hut stops and a possible camp out.

Time: 8 hrs.