Patutu

The track starts at the Okiwi Bay campground, but its easy enough to walk a few meters to the sea to make it start at sea level. 

The track slowly climbs through regenerating scrub along a four wheel motorbike track. This section is quite wide but is uneven and rocky in sections.

After about half a hour the track to Patutu splits away from the Okiwi Bay - Half Moon track, and drops down to a river bed. Flood damage now means that quad bikes are unable to cross the ford.  With the aid of stepping stones the river can be crossed without getting wet feet. 

From the ford the track starts to climb, a recent slip makes further process with any bikes next to impossible.  The bypass of the slip is steep, narrow and tricky to navigate. I was rather nervous in places. 

The bypass quickly rejoins the main track which continues to climb, in places it is deeply eroded. At about the halfway point the track leaves the scrub and goes through a series of clearings (good camping). 

The second half of the track is a bit steeper.  After approximately three hours  the quad bike track ends and a rather steep section begins. 

The last hour to the summit is steep, and the track between the makers can be difficult to follow. These one section up a gravelly chute which really requires the use of hands. In winter there might be snow. 

From the summit good views can be hand up and down the coast, and inland towards the Kaikoura mountains or up the braided Clarence River.