Offroad-Express

Looking for something a little different?

Following on from the last 8 years is the Biannual 4x4 event held in Waikaia.

The Ultimate High Country Experience is a 3 day event and based in Waikaia, and takes in day trips which vary from easy to extreme. The trips are run by the local Southern Trail Blazers 4WD club, the event itself is a fundraiser for, and run by the people of the local Waikaia Museum.

Waikaia is close to a well known track over the old man range or the Whitcoomb road, and this event goes much further into similar terrain, such as Blue Lake, and many other stations and areas not normally open to the public.

Here are a few pic's, depending on the weather will determine how the tracks are, but if you want hard there will be hard and easy there will be easy. If you come equipped with Simex's and a winch - there will be a track. If you come with good MT's there will also be a track. Runs in the past have been about 6 -8 trucks with 3 -5 runs per day giving drivers options.

The dates are 6th, 7th, 8th of February and this is Waitangi weekend. The night of the 5th there will be a barbecue tea and registration from 5pm till 8pm. Evening entertainment Friday night, the 6th.

some contact details and costs etc would help

Hi Jerry

This is just a start to guage interest and get some info out there.

A web address is being set up and costs set.
Likely to be $350ish but as I say, these are to be set.

Waikaia is 40 mins northwest of Gore and one and a half hours from Queenstown.

Any questions on the 4WDing side can be directed to me.

Are Banjo's provided or do people need to bring their own

PS I've put a post up on the NZ4WD Mag forum as well

where would the camp be? would this be the one that stays in balfour, or piano flat by any chance.

Would that be per person or turck or couple or family. Depending on the final price, I would be very interested, haven't been down there for since Waitangi '06. Woud take wife and two kids under five so prices for families would be good.
Al

i could be interested in this trip to

Could be keen

rangimotors wrote:where would the camp be? would this be the one that stays in balfour, or piano flat by any chance.

I don't know of anyone that has stayed in Balfour for the event - it is a few km's away. Last couple of times I have stayed with friends or tented in the camp ground there. I will get more details when they come.

To camp at Piano Flat you'd be doing battle with a gazillion sand flies until the sun drops. And it is about 20km from the base in Waikaia.

albundy wrote:Would that be per person or turck or couple or family. Depending on the final price, I would be very interested, haven't been down there for since Waitangi '06. Woud take wife and two kids under five so prices for families would be good.
Al

Hi Al, yes in the past the cost has been per vehicle and includes 2 for the dinners etc. So the kids would be extra, these things are still being worked out for costing for extra, but being under 5's you may want to feed them yourselves?

I will post more after next meeting.

Waikaia is isolated but there will be fuel available from a mini tanker and the store/coffee shop will be open early for purchasing lunch's etc. There is also a pub!

All trips are day trips and we might try for a night trip (3-4 hr) if there is enough interest.

Glen

penciled in my diary, definitely seriously considering it now at that price.
Al

You lucky buggers,i would love to be there,the area is very special to me and my partner,absolutely love the area,spent 2 months there this year 4x4ing,camping and just mucking around [ been going there for over 20 years ]
The very best of luck for your trip...

NJV6 wrote:

rangimotors wrote:where would the camp be? would this be the one that stays in balfour, or piano flat by any chance.

I don't know of anyone that has stayed in Balfour for the event - it is a few km's away. Last couple of times I have stayed with friends or tented in the camp ground there. I will get more details when they come.

To camp at Piano Flat you'd be doing battle with a gazillion sand flies until the sun drops. And it is about 20km from the base in Waikaia.

ok thanks, i also will pencil it in but will have to confirm closer to the time. I am from Balfour and from time to time a 4wd trip happens and they all stay at the rugby grounds. I have never dragged my truck down but am keen as to explore the area further.
Piano flat wasn't to bad last few times i have stayed there, but its been a few years and alot of beers.

furnace wrote:You lucky buggers,i would love to be there,the area is very special to me and my partner,absolutely love the area,spent 2 months there this year 4x4ing,camping and just mucking around [ been going there for over 20 years ]
The very best of luck for your trip...

Not to late to come back again.......

rangimotors wrote:

NJV6 wrote:

rangimotors wrote:where would the camp be? would this be the one that stays in balfour, or piano flat by any chance.

I don't know of anyone that has stayed in Balfour for the event - it is a few km's away. Last couple of times I have stayed with friends or tented in the camp ground there. I will get more details when they come.

To camp at Piano Flat you'd be doing battle with a gazillion sand flies until the sun drops. And it is about 20km from the base in Waikaia.

ok thanks, i also will pencil it in but will have to confirm closer to the time. I am from Balfour and from time to time a 4wd trip happens and they all stay at the rugby grounds. I have never dragged my truck down but am keen as to explore the area further.
Piano flat wasn't to bad last few times i have stayed there, but its been a few years and alot of beers.

Ah yes, the CLROC has been down and stayed there.

Ah yes, the CLROC has been down and stayed there.

about three xmasses ago

NJV6 wrote:

furnace wrote:You lucky buggers,i would love to be there,the area is very special to me and my partner,absolutely love the area,spent 2 months there this year 4x4ing,camping and just mucking around [ been going there for over 20 years ]
The very best of luck for your trip...

Not to late to come back again.......

Sorry guys i start new job thursday [ old job back again ]money just to good to turn down...Be back down that way again in May

A little more for those expressed interest.



Entry forms with accomodation options (phone numbers of suitable accomodation places) can be PM'd if requested.

And here is an article written by Harald & Carmen who have been down for a couple of trips.

http://www.4wdnz.net/2005/non_club_trip ... _Jamboree/

Only a few weeks to go!

The event is going ahead - we haven't had alot of interest but this just means people who come get to do more 4WDing and the trips THEY want to do

bugger im down south this weekend and the next, i can't do 3 weekends in a row. Have a great time.

Damn, forgot this was on