Whangarei 4 WDC Tutukaka Coast Safari March 9th 2013

[Coljag]

The event: Whangarei Four Wheel Drive Club is hosting an inagrual Tutukaka Coast Safari. This safari will be held on March 9th 2013 with 4wheel driving over some of the best scenic farmland on Northland's Tutukaka coast. The event will have camping available from the Friday night through to Sunday morning with a full day of 4 wheel driving on the Saturday. There will be tracks to suite all types of vehicle from the soft roaders (no low range but with reasonable ground clearance) to the hard core club truck. The tracks available should present little chance of vehicle damage with the emphasis on fun with prize giving and a social on the Saturday night after the drive. Register your interest now as numbers are strictly limited.
Contact Maureen Barradell <maureenbarradell@gmail.com>

[Coljag]

Already been some interest. Register your interest now. Should be a good fun weekend! Proceeds to the small rural school of Ngunguru.

[MNC]

Hi, what are the truck requirements for the tuff truck run? Will an offroad only vehicle be ok? any tire limit? winch needed?

Sounds like fun.

[Coljag]

Tuff trucks will have minimal road driving but some none the less, up to you if you want to risk it? Probably too easy for an off road only truck as it is aimed at non club members as well. If fine weather AT tyres may do but still planning the tracks so will keep all informed after we have better ideas on the whole thing.
On the first time out on some of the tracks, we had a Nissan Safari on Simex extreme tyres needing to winch a couple of times, on the tuff track but some of the others were able to drive through. The weather was as good as it gets then so ya never know?
What I can promise is great scenery with a great bunch of people, all four wheelers are great people, didn't you know!
I suggest you register your interest with Maureen and decide when more information comes through?

[Coljag]

Hi All, just been out on the tracks all weekend. We are still planning on which tracks for which class but have a better idea of class requirements and perhaps expectation for you guys?
Scenic Class for non low range 4x4 vehicles and those other 4x4's that want to take in the fabulous scenery. No car type 4x4 (e.g Sabaru) though.

4x4 Class for all low range type vehicles with minimum of good A/T tyres. Some brush marks possible.

Club Class for club type vehicles with mud tyres and recovery points. Brush marks are probable and you will get stuck.

The event is over quite steep farm tracks that will take all day to complete. There is road driving from the school to the first track through the coastal town of Ngunguru. Travel can be mostly by back streets and is only approx 4 km's each way. Mostly on a back gravel road. The only other time you may be on the roads will be linking the various farms, mere metres. However all risk is yours!
There will be free camping at the school so playground etc for the kids and toilets & showers for those that need it. The school plan to provide, at extra cost, an evening meal, prize giving and an open bar on completion of the days driving. So I suggest the camping but motels and cabins are close by if needed. Sunday will be up to you, travel home or stay and enjoy more of the local attractions.
If interested I suggest you get in early and secure your place.
Contact Maureen Barradell <maureenbarradell@gmail.com>

[tweake]

that sounds good.
would be good to keep the shinys cruisy. wasn't to good have em sliding sideways down hill on the glenbervie one. something a bit tamer so i can coax a few remuewera tractors to make the trip.

[mike21]

sounds like a good wknd! i'm interested

[Coljag]

Secure your spots guys!
If the weather turns to crap we MAY have something a bit different but hopefully fine sunny days.
Yep bring them Remuera tractors. The locals we took out over some of the scenic tracks were very comfortable with how easy we went.
And
there will be other stuff to excite most seasoned wheelers. Not mud plugging as should be dry, but the odd mud crossing. One we went across over the weekend where we winched everyone, not sure it will be used at this stage. And very steep country. This is for the Club type trucks with scenery thrown in for good measure.
The 4x4 class guys may even do some of the club class tracks if time and weather allows but it should be optional.

[Coljag]

Still some spots available.
Great value at only $90 for driver and vehicle (extra for passengers) includes lunch and two nights free camping almost on the water! Real value if you bring the family camping. Stay for the night with optional evening meal (at extra cost) available.
You will travel less than 4.5km on road to the first off road track then stay pretty much off road all day. There will be short sections on road but probably less than 3 km total depending on class. Until you return down the same track you went in on. Great stuff! Very scenic!
Scenic class is suitable, but challenging, for those Remuera tractors. Even suitable for non low range vehicles with reasonable ground clearence. Plenty of little challenges for all.
4x4 class will suit most vehicles with low range. Some of the same tracks but with more difficult challenging bits that will get the heart pumping. Non vehicle damaging (subject to driver input), we have even cut back the bush to minimize brush marks. Vehicles with low plastic bits should go into scenic class as ground clearence may be an issue for them.
Club class will suit most enthusiasts with reasonably capable vehicles. Some of the same tracks but with even more difficult pieces where brush marks are probable. Most club type vehicles should handle this class OK subject to driver input.
You will still experience most of the same scenery.
Contact the school Maureen Barradell, <maureenbarradell@gmail.com> and she will look after you from there. Do it now! Before you forget.

[Coljag]

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[Coljag]

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[Coljag]

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[Coljag]

Still taking entries, more spaces available. Awesome weekend planned, bring along your mates that haven't tried out their 4wd before.
Should be fantastic for all skill levels and all types of vehicle.
And with me being a Jeep man, the more Jeep's the better!! LOL.

[Coljag]

Just spent all last weekend finishing off the tracks. Something there for everyone.
Scenic class is challenging for non-low range 4WD vehicles, shouldn't scratch it though, unless driver makes some sort of mistake. But fantastic views/scenery for all.

4x4 Class has some small really challenging pieces where correct wheel placement will be paramount to avoiding rubbing low bits on those vehicles with not much clearence front and rear. You may even need the odd tow! Should be non vehicle threatening with challenging bits optional.

Club class is the only class where you will get some Mud! Not an easy task up here at present (finding mud) but we found some, a real challenge. Get those winches out boys!

Weather forcast is fine and sunny, will be a great weekend! Entries still available!

[Coljag]

Coming? Last chance. Where are all those Remuera tractors? Very small entries in the scenic class. Will suite RAV4 or CRV or any normal ground clearence 4x4. You will need 4x4 though! We will insist that you let your tyres down to no more than 18psi for traction and comfort. Very rough ground.
No mud (except club class) but fantastic views. Weather forecast is for fine sunny weather. It is a SCENIC safari.
Non road registered trucks are welcome but entirely your risk. Apart from crossing the road a couple of times there is the first 3.5km on mostly gravel road then same road finish. Could leave tow wagon at school (should be room) which adds approx another 1km road. We haven't seen any police there yet but I am not saying they wont pull you up. Northland is a little different than those big city's after all.

[tweake]

sorry had to give it a miss, meant to be helping mate shift in the weekend. otherwise would have been good to get his Remuera tractor a little dusty.

[Coljag]

Yeah, no shortage of dust up here at present. Pity if you can't make it up. Maybe next time.
All you forum members that are coming, make sure you identify yourselves. It is always great to put faces to names etc.
Cheers

[Tanktracks]

Trents enjoyed the reces sounds like some gr8 scenery and the weather looks good for the weekend.

[on2it]

Thanks for the great day, friendly bunch of guys from the Whangerei club and a really well organised event.
Hope everyone else's group was as great as ours. Pics to come.

I went up with another mate from Auckland.

[nzlux]

Thanks for the great day, friendly bunch of guys from the Whangerei club and a really well organised event.
Hope everyone else's group was as great as ours. Pics to come.

I went up with another mate from Auckland.

I didnt get any pics would be great to see some

[on2it]

Heres a library here (better than posting heavy pics on here):

http://s1324.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 9th%202013