Tinui Fundraiser

Some of our club members went along on the Tinui fundraising trip. Check out the spectacular photos from Jan and Trev:

Tinui Fundraiser
Castle Point

We arranged a cute whare at Ohau Hunting Park on the Mataikona coastal road just North of Castle Point; this was our base for a couple of days while we joined the Tinui cross country fundraiser. We even had our own private little beach with a driftwood entry.
It was a great day with reportedly 110 vehicles, a big percentage being Land Rovers. There were three other club members present in the line-up which was nice. We traversed several large stations on what was the old bullock trails used for transporting wool etc to the coast. We were supplied with lots of history along with old photos of the bullock teams at work.
We eventually came out onto Pack Spur Road at Mataikona then continued to Castle Point Station. This was a lovely scenic coastal track through the station to Otahome Road.
Over 100 kms later, the day rounded off with a BBQ at the Tinui School.
Big miles to get there but it was well worth it.

Big Bertha: Rising from the Ashes

Last year the Club sent a donation to the Big Bertha rebuild effort.

Here is an update and some photos by way of Jan:

Good afternoon Jan,

Ashley Lucas from NZ 4 Wheel drive Magazine has handed me over a cheque from the treasurer at the club for $200.00 to put towards the rebuild.

Please thank the members very much for the help as every little bit helps.

We have had some great response from a number of people touched by the story, and some made keen just to see the truck
just back up and running.

After 13 years of fundraising and helping the kids, I just couldn't see her go this way so it's been heartening to have had such
great support.

Attached are a few of the photo's of where things were 18 months ago and how we are looking now, as you will agree, a huge
transformation, although there is still a long way to go.

Even as we speak the windows have been finished and she is on her way to Fleet Image in Hamilton for painting so things are
moving along.

Thanks again and kind regards

Andrew, Bev and Big Bertha

Club Christmas Trip 2010

It was great to catch up with so many club members and their families on the recent Christmas Trip. Special thanks to Lucy Playne and her family at Longfords Farm for not only taking us on a 4x4 trek across the farm but also taking the kids for rides on the horses afterwards. Also a big thank you to Steve at the Alpin Motel for allowing us the use of his facilities for our BBQ lunch.

The man himself with some of his biggest fans

Winding our way up to the top of Longfords Farm

View of Lake Tarawera from the top

View of the Green Lake from the top

Just some of the club vehicles at the top

Part 2 - Horse Riding

Part 3 - Playtime

For the little kids

and the bigger ones too

While others had a chance to catch up.

Desert Road Defenders 4x4 Muster

We had a very enjoyable and fun weekend recently at the Waiouru Muster close on 100 vehicles of all makes with 4 Landies from our club.

The base and camp site for the weekend was at the Karioi Domain on the foothills of Ruapehu.It was a great site with facilities in the domain hall, an interesting old building which had originally been a school. All meals were provided & served in the hall with army field tents for overflow. The view was amazing looking straight up to the mountain.

Saturday was spent entirely on army land with a few mud challenges and hill climbs thrown in. The Singapore Army was training in an adjacent area so provided us with the unnerving sounds of battle fire with the odd smoke bomb for variety. The day was clear again providing stunning views.

On Sunday we were taken over farm land to various points overlooking Waiouru, the Desert Road and Taihape. The day concluded with a late BQQ lunch.

Good fun, good company and friendly fellow campers.

But for four of us the weekend began with an exhilarating 2x2 adventure as follows:

The Old Coach Road Cycle Way

One of the first of John Key's 'Mountain to Sea' cycle ways - a 16k ride which begins or ends at Horopito and Ohakune.

No prizes to guess we started at the Horopito end which is reported as the more "down hill" way but once we got going there seemed to be as many ups as downs. Some of us walked some hills, some of us didn't - eh Mike!

The trail took us through various heritage features including parts of the original unearthed cobble road, massive steel viaducts, rail bridge remains, old campsites and somewhere a unique curved tunnel which we didn't manage to find. The surface was muddy and soft in places making the ride somewhat difficult. It is a much tougher ride than any part of the Otago Rail Trail where the surface is all gravel and the gradient easy.

It was fun, interesting and good to do, certainly glad we did it!

Taonui Viaduct (not to be restored)

A unique curve with unusual 1 in 60 gradient

Lucky we didn't have to climb over this one!

Restored Hapuawhenua Viaduct which took 2 years to build.

Workers lived on site in harsh winters, primitive conditions and isolation.

New concrete bridge nearby.

A bit scary - not as easy as it looked.

Read and rest awhile.

Start or end of trail.

Desert Road Muster

Into the unknown.

Top of hill climb.

No show without punch!

Even these boys can't resist a play

Guess Who?

Still they come

Lunch spot.

Have another go Ian.

How many more shall we hook on?