Distance: 1.9 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 620m to 686m. Gain: 119m. Loss: 79m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

From Palmer Stream Major Forks, head due south up a relatively straight section of the stream bed. Note, this is away from the open valley to the east. The stream twists its way for 300m through a small headland, emerging into another relatively open section of the valley. Climb up on to a terrace on the TR & pick up an indistinct foot-bed through the matagouri & rose-hip. The foot-bed becomes clearer & it can be followed in a south-west direction for 600-700m, before dropping down to the stream bed, where travel resumes in the water body again. The valley narrows & a small tributary enters on the TL. The valley narrows further but travel remains easy, except for a small 1m high waterfall, which can be passed on the TR on slippery rocks. The stream passes around a small narrow headland & then straightens to the south. On the TL bank are two cairns, one set further back from the other, with the cairn closer to the bank, being more obvious in size. Head for the gap in the matagouri, pass through it & an indistinct ground trail can be seen. This swings to the south around another few patches of matagouri, before the bivvy comes into view. Note, the bivvy cannot be seen from the stream bed or bank as the matagouri obscures it from view.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the bivvy head back to the stream through the pockets of matagouri. Drop into the stream bed & circle around the narrow headland. Remain in the stream, crossing as required. Care should be taken in descending the 1m high waterfall as the rocks are slippery. Below this point, the valley gradually widens, & beyond the small tributary on the TL, climb up on to a terrace on the TR. Pick up the indistinct foot-bed & follow this north-northeast for 600-700m through pockets of matagouri & rose-hip. Drop back into the stream bed, pass around a small headland & shortly thereafter, emerge at the Palmer Stream Major Forks, evident by the wide valley heading east.