Hi Waipara can be fun, if not too much water can drive down stream from the highway bridge to the beach and then north to the cliffs for a look. Can then head back along the beach past the Waipara and back up the Kowhai for a nice loop. Alternatively head upstream from the bridge and I usually bug out after 7km at Stringers Rd. The Waipara has some great soft pea gravel in places if underwater this can get very soft

Other easy trips include up the Selwyn, across Birdlings Flat and up Bossu Rd or the Takamatua stock track that joins Old Le Bons Track to Summit Rd
Check out some of the local 4wd clubs for the best trips and info
