The half-day walk starts at 816 Matahuru Valley Road, Waiterimu - the Tui Ridge cottage. Behind the cottage near the forest, the track initially drops down to some farm sheds before beginning the climb through farmland.

The track soon leaves the farmland and enters a Queen Elizabeth II (QE II) protected reserve. This is a scenic fenced-off area of native vegetation with some impressive large puriri, rewarewa, and kahikatea trees.

Climb through the forest and follow the markers until the trees thin out and there are glimpses of farmland. Cross the fence and follow the farm track which soon picks up a spur leading up to the tops of the Hapuakohe Range.

Beyond the old airstrip, there is a track junction. The main track continues to climb to the highest point on the range. The shortcut avoids this climb to the top and passes a natural spring and a quarry before rejoining the main track to reach Grandad John's Seat.

On the main track, the last 100m of the climb steepens until the main ridge is reached. Follow the ridge and bush edge northwards towards the telecommunications tower. This part of the track is shared with the Department of Conservation (DOC) public track called the Hapuakohe Walkway.

Just behind the tower and building is the Maungakawa (535m) trig. From here on a fine day there are outstanding views westward towards Raglan including the volcanic cone of Mt Karioi (756m) on the edge of the Tasman Sea.

Descend northwards from the tower along the access road to a track junction. Here the DOC track continues along the tower access road while this day walk leads westward over a fence. Once over the fence follow the farm track down to the seat at Grandad John's Lookout. This is a great place for lunch on a calm day (otherwise shelter at the trig) which has stunning views over the Hauraki Plains leading into the Firth of Thames.

Leaving the lookout seat the track descends a farm track through a series of paddocks and beside pockets of native forest. On the way down the track passes Frog Bush - the regional council thought that there might have been native frogs here. After 2km the track reaches the gravel of the Matahuru Valley Road.

Head down along the edge of the road for 1km. Once past the cattle yards go up the Tui Ridge cottage driveway to complete the half-day loop.