Offroad-Express

From an article onStuff.co.nz
The sheep were caught for two fundraising days at Winterslow Station on January 24 and February 28 to raise money for the Methven Heritage Project.

Station owner David Wightman plans to open his station for two days of four-wheel driving, including a tour and history of the land. There will also be a competition to guess the weight of fleeces.

A bit more info from Methven Heritage centre

4WD Opportunity to Visit Historic Winterslow Station
December 12th, 2008

This summer the public are being given a rare opportunity to visit historic Winterslow Station in a 4WD adventure and charity fundraiser for the Methven District Heritage Project.
Owners of the high country station, David and Anita Wightman, have graciously offered to open Winterslow to the public for two trips on 24 January and 28 February, 2009 respectively.

The Wightman family have run Winterslow since 1946, and the 9400ha station which takes in Mount Winterslow and the Taylor Range. With its proximity to Methven in mid-Canterbury it is one of the most accessible of the high country runs (although much of it only by foot, horseback, or on rare occasions by four wheel drive vehicle).

David Wightman, a veteran of 45 autumn musters, has a passion for the high country and its history, and will be guiding the tours . He says after all this time he still reckons it’s ‘the best place in the world’, and he’s keen to share some rare insights, stories, photographs and memorabilia with visitors.

Billed as not for the faint hearted the trip will take in the old cookshop a piece of living history, blade shearing demonstration, sausage sizzle and displays as well as the challenging 4WD journey up to the Lagoon Hutt at 4000ft with fantastic high country views from the road at 5000ft.

All funds raised will go towards the $4 million re-development of the Mount Hutt Memorial Hall, scheduled to start in 2009.

Methven Heritage Project Manager Roxane Gajadhar said it is a very exciting opportunity for the public to visit this private land and working high country station.

This is a unique opportunity to see a historic working station, take part in some challenging four wheel driving and enjoy hearing the tales of mustering, dogs, merinos and about the men and women of the high country. It is a truly special place which we are thrilled to have access to, and this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Those wishing to attend need a high clearance 4WD vehicle, and must pre-register as numbers are strictly limited to 70 vehicles.

Costs are $30 pp for adults and free for under 12s. For more information and a registration form click here or pick up a brochure from the Methven i-Site.
The Form

Got to love the entry form

N.B.
Clean toilets available. Adequate seating for those who wish
to relax.

Best you take a book because you can stay as long as you like..................

Its a fantastic place, I have done that rip before with another club. Well worth going on.
I might even do it again if time permits.

im keen to go. kiwipete how rough is the tracks as ill have lili with me shes only 1 year old. but then again shes been up worleys.

jono

The tracks were not too rough for the youngin when I last went there. I dare say they will have don some work on them too if ther are to be 70 trucks going in there. we had to cut through a scree when we went in at one stage.
I will see if I can find some pictures of the area.

Johno, buy a neck cushion for ya kid. My kids have been 4wheeling since they were inside the womb and went 4wheeling from day 1 old. As long as you are happy with your restraints and get a neck cushion then alls good. My boys are 3 and 5 now and people consider them little bushman quite happy and comfortable in the bush. Best thing for kids in my opinion.
I'm sending my cheque away today, I;m real keen to go on this one.
Al

Thats a great idea "al" Cheers i didnt think of that. i mite just put the head support back in for that trip, just been ot to the shed and found it. yip im planining on takin my bro up with the family, so sending cheque off bfore we head to hanmer on thursday.

jono

Did any one get to go on this trip.

i was working and it was booked out by the monday 19. thinking and the feb trip but will have to book earily

jono

Booked in for February myself as are some other I know.
Al

Trip ended up happening on the 30th jan as 23rd was raining wouldve been to slippery for most of the trucks there tracks are good they had not long graded them with a tractor and back blade be fairly tight in a big longwheel base truck in places but my surf went well, mint views not a challenging trip but a good day out, heads up to anyone going theres around 170 sheep in the mob they muster down the hill lol hardcase to see the panther trap. was a trip round haka valley fairlie lions where doing yesterday i couldnt go, be interesting to findout how it went.

Well if any one wants to use this fantastic trip layout and information as an example of how to set a precedence in charges without the exorbitant prices for an off road experience that is normally found in the North Island, this takes the Number One Award.

All too often the public are subjected to high trip costs with no escorting, a dead sausage and stale slice of bread as if it was the only thing they could afford from the $90 charge.

I would be into that Methven trip much like a rabbits leaving Bannockburn when we arrived there in '87.

Good luck, look forward to the Trip report, in fact send it here and a copy to :
foursport@slingshot.co.nz (www.4x4motorsport.co.nz pending)
and we will arrange for publishing,

Regards
Paul - ZL2CQ