Mackley shiny trip, Waitangi weekend

[lneil]

I'm taking a bunch of shinys through the Mackley (Buller gorge to Denniston) on Waitangi day. Overnighting in Westport Fri' night (arrange own accomodation) and then a play on the Denniston plateau loop-track on Saturday, before returning home via the Mackley on Sat' afternoon.

If anyone wants to join in let me know. Low key trip through some great country.

Also, can anyone confirm that both the Mackley and Denniston-loop gates are now both open? DOC at Westport tell me that they are, but didn't sound 100% sure.

Cheers, Leigh

[Smurf]

We might be in for this, so long as it isn't too tuff

[hillfilly]

Mackley track was open a fortnight ago ,
Pretty sure that Denniston is too.

It's a Sunday drive

[Bulletproof]

Also, can anyone confirm that both the Mackley and Denniston-loop gates are now both open? DOC at Westport tell me that they are, but didn't sound 100% sure.

Cheers, Leigh

Hi Leigh
My wife's uncle and cousin went through a couple of weeks ago and no problem with gates.

Cheers Richard

[DaveM]

I'd be keen, any need for a snorkel?
Will have one on the GQ by then, but the rest may not be ready, so I may need to take the GU, which doesn't have one.


Cheers,
Dave

[lneil]

Thanks for the confirmation on the gates guys.

Dave M, you're welcome. This is a SHINY trip. apart from crossing the Mackley river (dependent on good weather for the couple of days prior) it's a nice gravel/dirt road with only a couple of mild scree-surface climbs out of creek crossings.

We usually spent a half-hour or so wading in the river, shifting the bigger rocks so the civilians can get through unscathed.

Snorkel definitely not necessary, but for the Saturday play up on the plateau, shiny's will not be appropriate! (When I talk shinys, I mean brand new Mall-crawling SUVs). Many of the shiny guys will love to come anyway, however, so we'll fit as many into our trucks as we can when we get up there, probably after taking them all on the drive up to the TV tower in their trucks.

The reason I do this is that most of our new Suzuki clients want to try their trucks off-road, that's why they bought 'zuks and not CRVs or RAVs, but they don't have any idea where to start. If you are into 4WD'ing you'll have a hoot. We always just go for a good time and try not to damage anybody's trucks except those that don't nind. Then we just give our own trucks death if we want.

PM me with address or email, and I'll send you details. No charge for anyone as the gates are open, and sort your own accommodation out in Westport for Friday night. (I'm staying at the holiday-park.)

My cell is 027 6129288 if anyone wants to call me with questions.

[U-BOAT]

Hi Leigh
My wife's uncle and cousin went through a couple of weeks ago and no problem with gates.

Cheers Richard

although the gates are not locked anymore there is a donation box at the New Creek end of the road when you drive past the farm house. I've been through the mackley 3 times in the last month or so on my dirtbike and the mackley river would have been do-able on that so, providing the weather stays fine you will have no problems with the crossing.

cheers marc

[red-devil]

when is the latest you would like to know by for the trip. as i will let my little bro know. an we may come over.

Jono

[lneil]

Sorry everyone, been off site for a while.

Thanks for the route reports, and Jono, that's fine if you want to come, I look forward to catching up with you.

We're meeting at Beechwoods Cafe in Murchison, at 10.00 a.m on Friday the 6th. It's on the main road, opposite the Mobil Station.

[DaveM]

You had me worried, saw the "sorry everyone" at the start and thought you had cancelled the trip, luckily not, been looking foward to it.

[lneil]

Yep, me too.

Unfortunately one of my daughters' trucks is not yet certified, so she's got to take the bog-standard V6 5Dr, NOT a happy little camper!

[red-devil]

were trying to find some were to stay at the mo. 10 am is sweet, just got to get up early.

were bring our little one along too so our truck will be full for dennerson

jono

[DaveM]

Yep, me too.

Unfortunately one of my daughters' trucks is not yet certified, so she's got to take the bog-standard V6 5Dr, NOT a happy little camper!

And she will still show me up
We too have to book accommodation, the original Motel double booked our room, and we were the ones that go without

[lneil]

If all else fails, there's always tents!

[red-devil]

we booked in Palm Court Motel so we'll see you lot at the Beechwoods cafe at 10.
i will post up here when we leave in the morning. planning it will take about 3.5 hours to get there so were leaving at 6am

lneil i've got your number so will call you when were close.

Jono.

is there anyone else leaving chch for this trip.

[lneil]

Yeah, Harrison should be coming up from Burnham with a mate, but I don't think he got around to logging on to ORE yet. I'll try to get his cell tomorrow and PM you with it.

Cheers
Leigh

[tallsam66]

Im in .....sounds like fun..booked into Palm Court Motel also...will meet you's at Beechwood cafe at 10am.
Jono...how about we meet somewhere & travel up together?

0274 954 018

[red-devil]

sweet as PM sent

[tallsam66]

As there are a few going from chch how about we meet at the Peg (Belfast Pub ) at 6 am & leave there at 615 am & travel up together ????

0274 954 018
PRS19

[chchzookfan]

sorry to let you doen Leigh, but gota test out the truck first (as ive only driven it twice before i had problems ) before i can commit to any trips, its a shame being the long weekend an all, also sounds like the perfect starting track for me to count me in next time though, also be sure to post some pics here when you guys are done! would love to see what im missing out on(think of it as a motivation booster )-also another thing is that i dont have a wof or rego and my truck doesnt go past about 70km/hr.steering is munted tyres go flat pretty quick, exhast leaks an brakes need fixing, its a never ending todo list but dont let that tell ya im not keen because il be there eventually

anyways have fun everyone

[red-devil]

As there are a few going from chch how about we meet at the Peg (Belfast Pub ) at 6 am & leave there at 615 am & travel up together ????

0274 954 018
PRS19

sweet as see ou there.

[Smurf]

We won't be able to make this trip, finances are a bit tight so taking the kids out camping instead.
Have a good trip guys

[DaveM]

Yet another for Palm Court Motel

[DaveM]

Big thanks to all involved for a great weekend, first time out in the new Hippo, and looking foward to getting out more often.

Cheers all,
Dave

[tallsam66]

Hi..good trip out...some beautiful scenery & great history to be amongst.
Cheers for organising it ....looking forward to seeing some of the pics

[lneil]

Thanks to all who came, particularly those who travelled from Blenheim & Christchurch. It was a real pleasure to meet you, it gave the trip a whole new aspect for me, and the shiny drivers really appreciated the help, confidence and ride-alongs you provided. I look forward to other trips with you guys, without some of the slowness and frustration of this trip.

Our trip back through the Mackley was a lot of fun, but I had to finish in the yellow truck in 2WD, courtesy of one front diff-housing split asunder. My first front diff failure in 2 years of fairly hard abuse of the truck, though!

Pics will be on the way as soon as I get them.

Cheers
Leigh

[red-devil]

many thanks leigh for the trip. we got back to chch 930 and i got my brother on the 1000 ferry to diamond harbour Just.

lili had enuff of the truck by the time we were passing hanmer, not bad for a 1 year old i think.

ill be going throungh the pics soon and will post up

Jono

[DaveM]

lili had enuff of being seen in a Toyota by the time we were passing hanmer, not bad for a 1 year old i think.
Jono

Must say, I was very impressed by how capable the little Suzuki's were, and it was great to see shiny's going where I would never expect to see them.

[tallsam66]

many thanks leigh for the trip. we got back to chch 930 and i got my brother on the 1000 ferry to diamond harbour Just.

lili had enuff of the truck by the time we were passing hanmer, not bad for a 1 year old i think.

ill be going throungh the pics soon and will post up

Jono

Did you stop for a feed somewhere...i got home at 830.

[red-devil]

The Group


Dropping in

I'm a shinny Look

Crossing time

Yellow and bright
just a few shots