Angelus Hut via Speargrass Track and Speargrass Creek Route

The track starts at the end of Mt Robert Road and drops gradually along the valley floor beside the river before climbing through beech forest. Speargrass Hut sits in a clearing at about 1,060 m, with mountain views. The Angelus branch leaves about five minutes before the hut; Plan roughly 2½–3 hours from the car park to that junction. If you want the shorter valley walk instead, Speargrass Hut is a separate 7 km, three-hour one-way destination, so allow for the return too.

From the junction, poles guide you up Te Horowai/Speargrass Creek. There are many unbridged crossings, and the lower sections can be muddy. After heavy rain or snowmelt, the water may be difficult or unsafe to cross; high creek levels can make this route impassable. This is sometimes used to leave Angelus when weather on Robert Ridge is poor, but that doesn't make it a reliable all-weather escape.

Above the bush edge, the route gets steeper and rougher as it climbs through open alpine ground. It joins the Mt Robert Ridge Route about ten minutes before the view over Angelus basin. Follow the poles down to Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus and the hut. The last part is shared with the ridge route, so expect high-country exposure even though most of the Speargrass approach stays in the valley.

The hut stands beside Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus at about 1,650 m, in a glacial basin ringed by steep peaks. It has 28 bunks, mattresses, a wood stove and toilets; hut and campsite bookings are required year-round. Bring your own food and a way to treat the hut's untreated water. For a clear keepsake of the destination, frame the hut with the lake and surrounding peaks rather than cropping the basin away. Dogs and other domestic animals aren't allowed in the park.

Snow, ice, freezing wind and poor visibility can occur even in summer. From May to October, expect winter alpine hazards and possible avalanche conditions; heavy snow can stretch the one-way trip to as much as nine hours. Carry your own drinking water for the route. The creek is a travel hazard, not a dependable water supply, and the hut water is untreated.

Maniniaro/Angelus Peak (2,075 m) is an optional climb from the hut, not part of this route. The nearby peak was named after an Easter 1947 ascent by L. J. Dumbleton, E. T. Chittenden and J. Stanton. In summer, when it is clear of snow, the local route account describes it as a separate climb; check conditions and your experience before adding it.