The walking easement begins at the Otamatapaio gorge and follows the river and crosses it a few times. The track takes you past an old stone hut on station land on the way.

To access the Oteake Conservation area, turn off SH 83 on to Backyards road for 2 km to Otamatapaio River CA. There is 4wd access from here for 4 km to the gorge. From a second vehicle park here a marked public walking easement takes you to Otamatapaio Hut.

Weather: Oteake is subject to weather extremes. Take clothing for all weather. Avalanche can occur from May to November. See Be avalanche alert.

River crossings: Be aware of recent weather conditions in the catchment headwaters.

Fire: Fire restrictions apply to all conservation land. Check with the local information centres or DOC offices for the current fire status.

Communications: Mobile coverage is not reliable in the park. Satellite phones, mountain radios or personal locator beacons increase personal safety.

Topographical maps are essential for all backcountry trips.