Down on the flats the braided Waiau spreads right across its valley, gravel bars and channels shifting from one flood to the next. There's no fixed route once you're on the riverbed, so it's a case of reading the land and picking your own line.

The drive in brings you to the river, and from there it's open riverbed navigation. Follow your nose, work around the braids as conditions allow, and be ready to turn back when the going gets uncertain. What held up last time may not hold up the next, especially after big rain.

Classic high country braided-river country with wide open views. Good one for drivers comfortable on river flats who enjoy sorting out their own crossing.