The track can be walked in either direction. The northern access is through Gordon Kear Forest, Scotts Road off SH57, 5km north of Tokomaru. The southern access is from a car park at the end of Tokomaru Valley Road, a left turn off Mangahao Road behind Shannon.
Neither entrance point is particularly easy to find. It is recommended to check the Te Araroa website for detailed information before setting off.
To walk the full track the estimated time is 6 hours going south, 7 hours going north.
This cache (a 100ml screw top plastic container) is placed in the middle part of the track near an information sign in a clearing.