From the Waikare landing, Waikare Valley Road past the Waikare School and urupa, and farms 3 km to a roadbridge across the Waikare River. It then begins to narrow, and after a further kilometre you must ford the Waikare River. On a good day this is no more than ankle deep, and you can cross on a concrete pole laid on the river bed, and not get your feet wet. After rain, it can be dangerous.

 The track ahead runs parallel to the Papakauri Stream. This track is a Maori road, a surveyed access into Maori land blocks where the public does not have  access by right. It was made part of Te Araroa after a series of meetings at Waikare Marae with the landowners.  Please treat it with respect. After 1.5 km the track tails out, and for the next 4 km you're walking up the stream. This 4 km across shoals and boulders will take longer than you anticipate, and you shouldn't attempt the route after or during heavy rain. If conditions are right though, it’s a beaut walk.  The stream finally intersects the Russell Forest Walkway, and as you turn right onto that track the DOC shelter there makes a good stop-over. The track then climbs to a 400m ridgeline viewpoint to the northwest before gradually descending and turning sharply left just before Pukemoremore (390m). You’ll catch glimpses of that old round and bald summit as you descend the ridge on a stepped track down  to Punaruku Stream, and alongside it, Punaruku Road, a seldom-used 4WD track, that runs through to Russell Road. If you’ve had a hot day, there’s a rope swing over a pool at the junction.