Nardoo Bivvy - Organiser: Mark Stevens

A little-visited part of the Nelson Lakes and for good reason, but that still did not deter eleven trampers, wishing to partake in the wonders that the Nardoo could bestow on them. We left Friday night to get an early start on the Saturday, the lodgings to be at the Mataki Lodge just a stone’s throw from the start of the track.
One driver thought we could save some time by going over the Braeburn Road, this road was known to be fraught with danger but on we travelled. As we rounded a corner we came across one of our vehicles in a precarious position: well and truly stuck in a very deep culvert. With much heaving, pushing and puffing we managed to get the back wheels out and attach a rope and towed the vehicle out. We continued on at a much subdued pace to the lodge, only to find it locked. But a quick drive up the road to the nearest farmhouse found the keys to the kingdom, and what a kingdom it was: heated floors, microwave, and soft beds. There were cries of “let us stay here the weekend” but these fell on deaf ears, the Nardoo was our destination.
There is a bridge over the Matakitaki River which we wanted to use, for all trampers love dry boots and also the river would be up after heavy rain. I had been trying to get hold of the local landowner for permission to cross, and had been asked to phone him in the morning at 7am. So with all the well-rested and breakfasted trampers at the ready, I phoned the landowner and with some trepidation asked for permission to cross the bridge. There was a hush then a wee cheer as I gave the news we had permission. The adventure of the Nardoo had begun.
We drove to the start of the track and set off for the bridge. With a stiff climb up a four wheel drive track, with bad bovine damage, we reached the saddle for the first rest and photos of the new dawn. The low cloud was lifting to reveal the Matakitaki Valley and Mt Ella. We then headed down to the Nardoo Creek and followed it upstream. The track is well marked until you get to open river flats then it was every man and his dog, finding the route turned out like a treasure hunt. The dry boots of the bridge were a long lost memory, for river crossing was in full swing - if we had needed the practice, we got it up the Nardoo. Lunch saw cups of tea brewed and GPS’s looked at.
After lunch it was debated about a deviation to the trip, there was talk of returning to the lodgings at Mataki Lodge but it was all agreed that we should carry on our preset course of the Nardoo. So with more track marker finding fun we came to the climb up from valley floor to bushline. This climb was to prove to be arduous though as we were out of the bushline, the views did help to improve one’s wellbeing. At this stage I would like to mention visitor Mike, to whom I’d given the third degree about this being a grade 4-plus tramp: he was already at the top of the ridge waiting for us less fit trampers to reach him!
The Nardoo Bivvy Hut is a small affair sitting next to a tarn at the foot of the Nardoo basin. Winter had left a nice dusting of snow and with it plummeting temperatures. With the impending dark, tents were erected and billies boiled. Being leader, I and two of my minions commandeered the hut. Being a party of 11 and a hut of very small size, most retired after supper to the comfort of the tents at the gracious hour of 6.30pm.
We had a 9am departure time and headed up the ridge to the valley head, only to encounter slippery rock so four continued on and the rest headed down to find a safer route up to the top. One was found and vistas were taken in as well as cups of tea, as the two groups re-grouped on the top. It is an excellent walk down the ridge to the bush line, to an old unmaintained track to the valley floor. On the way breaks were taken and cups of tea with lashings of whipped cream were drunk, the weather was super and the scenery was seen. After a short look for the track start it was deemed that we should stay together on the track in case of lossage. The downhill was hard going to the valley but we all made it down. Then it was out on the well marked track but the shorter daylight hours caught us and head lamps were donned for the slog out across the bovine wasteland. A quick wash in the Nardoo Creek to clean bovine wastage was called for. Arrival at the vehices was at 7.30pm and, with warm dry clothes on, our convoy headed toward Nelson leaving the Nardoo to its peaceful slumber.
The Nardoo’ers: Dion Pont, Gretchen Williams, Roger Bruce, Alice Patterson, Nora Flight, Tony Haddon, Ruth Hesselyn, Ian Pavitt, Hisa Matsuo, visitor Mike Marren, and Mark Stevens.

NB: Alice wants to say a huge thank you to the team of blokes that helped carry her pack out from this tramp.
I owe you all smoko – ring with your order! Happy tramping.