Junction Top to Te More - Kaimanawa's

This section of "track" on air charter taupo permit only private land put a stop on our attempt to summit Makorako from Umakarikari carpark/ waipakahi hut last weekend. We followed a very obvious track off the tops down a spur which was clearly signposted near junction top close to pt 1573. Once we hit the bush it just turned to hell. We ended up abandoning to cut a long story short. The spur we followed down was pretty clearly tracked. However another spur branches off to the left off which we are thinking may be the correct spur even though there seemed no track down there. We have seen maps marked with a route down it (and even the spur which shoots off again from this) Has anyone done this route pref recently?. Snow fall and windfall as well as years of no maintainence has obviously turned this section of travel into a bit of a nightmare. If anyone can put any hope in our hearts we are up to give this another bash Thanks :-)