More scrubby, windfallen, bouldery travel in the upper Huitatariki. 'Boss, can we stop now?'.

The Huitatariki Stream has LINZ riverbed and queens chain and offers a route from the Tapuaroa Roadend (for Mt Hikurangi / Oronui River & Hut) and the Raukokore.

Downriver things improve - shingle river flats with pine forestry on the hillsides. Another gorge lies just above the confluence with the Taopuaroa, but can be travelled easily in the riverbed.