Hi All. We will be up in Tauranga over the new year period for a few days and I was just wondering if there are any good 4wd trips to be had up around that area. I will be taking the Whale up, my brother will be taking his SWB Pajero up and meeting a mate with a shiney Prado.
So, we are thinking that because we can't take the boat up there now that we may take the family and go out on a day/overnight excursion. We are not looking for anything too extreme where damage is highly likely, but will be looking for a bit of a challenge (ie, not just a gravel road tour).
So, any suggestions? GPS coordinates, etc would be much appreciated.
Places to go around Tauranga
Places to go around Tauranga
Last edited by Mark on Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hello Mark
take a look at this topic
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... pic&t=4099
would be keen to a trip or three, round Tauranga itself there isn't that many tracks however up Cormandel and eastern BOP [round Motu] there is a few tracks and there's the infamous Thompsons Track.
hoping to check out some of this tracks just after Christmas as to conditions etc.
take a look at this topic
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... pic&t=4099
would be keen to a trip or three, round Tauranga itself there isn't that many tracks however up Cormandel and eastern BOP [round Motu] there is a few tracks and there's the infamous Thompsons Track.
hoping to check out some of this tracks just after Christmas as to conditions etc.
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mike
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Check with Dieselboy what thompsons is like. You should be able to get up there with the whale, the pajero definitly if its like last time I remember.
You should try and do the 42nd traverse on the way up/back, perfect for whale and co. Its right near national park/ohakune
Mike
You should try and do the 42nd traverse on the way up/back, perfect for whale and co. Its right near national park/ohakune
Mike
1973 SWB Land Rover V8 Hybrid
1994 Toyota Surf
1994 Toyota Surf
Gudday Mark, I was up thompsons about 3 weeks ago. (and will be going up again this weekend for a little jaunt)
The tracks cool, wont damage anything (as far as the crossroads anyway!) but theres some nice little rock slips that make for a tight, but still comfortable, squeeze.
Dunno about camping, theres a couple of clearings on the way up that might be suitable, or after the first part of the summit climb maybe. . . . .
Im talking about the Matamata side of Thommos here. DB, dixie and wopass had a crack at thommos2 a while back (katikati side) but from what i gather it was fairly run down and fugly, they will be able to comment further on that.
I'm looking at dedicating a long weekend to thommos2 in the first part of 2007...... winchs, shovels, and food will be a prerequisite....... any takers??
According to Google Earth -
x-roads - 37deg38'44.56"S 175deg50'40.27"E
summit - 37deg38'54.35"S 175deg50'37.85"E
Mark
The tracks cool, wont damage anything (as far as the crossroads anyway!) but theres some nice little rock slips that make for a tight, but still comfortable, squeeze.
Dunno about camping, theres a couple of clearings on the way up that might be suitable, or after the first part of the summit climb maybe. . . . .
Im talking about the Matamata side of Thommos here. DB, dixie and wopass had a crack at thommos2 a while back (katikati side) but from what i gather it was fairly run down and fugly, they will be able to comment further on that.
I'm looking at dedicating a long weekend to thommos2 in the first part of 2007...... winchs, shovels, and food will be a prerequisite....... any takers??
According to Google Earth -
x-roads - 37deg38'44.56"S 175deg50'40.27"E
summit - 37deg38'54.35"S 175deg50'37.85"E
Mark
/| , [____],
l----L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)-----)_)
KEEP'N JEEP'N!
l----L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)-----)_)
KEEP'N JEEP'N!
There was a slip that needed some TLC on the Katikati side.
........and spare alternator and some thing to clean your radiator with during the trip There was a slip that needed some TLC on the Katikati side.
Spare alternator? what have you been up to dude...
went for a scoot up tomos weekend before last on the XR,really dry you chaps should cruise to the top without to many issues if the weather keeps up.
just over the xroads heading down towards Katikati theres a bit of a gap in the road,wasnt to keen on walking my heavy swb safari around it so unless thats had some maintenance done to it you maybe needing some big nuts!!!!
Keep us posted if you guys are keen on taking a wander somewhere,if theres room could be keen to come for a browse.
Thanks chaps. Sounds like the Matamata side would be the go for us. How long would it take to get to the summit assuming the current stated condition of the track? I assume that the track just goes up and over... although "cross-roads" would tend to indicate that there is a track running along the top or something.
Would it be a day trip or are we just talking a couple of hours? It looks as though it's only a couple of kms. I assume there's no loop track??
Would it be a day trip or are we just talking a couple of hours? It looks as though it's only a couple of kms. I assume there's no loop track??
Hey Mark,
if you just intend on cruising to the top,this can be done easily in 2-3 hours,maybe some light brushmarks nothing major.
There is a loop but probably not what you guys are set up for,our last trip took around 5 hours and afew bruises....
Easy trip up and good place to chill and have some crib,whilst looking across the planes and back down on matakana island and Katikati.
if you just intend on cruising to the top,this can be done easily in 2-3 hours,maybe some light brushmarks nothing major.
There is a loop but probably not what you guys are set up for,our last trip took around 5 hours and afew bruises....
Easy trip up and good place to chill and have some crib,whilst looking across the planes and back down on matakana island and Katikati.
theres a couple of play areas on the way up on the left, and the "Loop" down on the right... depending on how your set up it might take a couple of hours - or 6. (the loop that is, need a winch for sure, unless its been maintained recently)
One way, straight up, its what..... 40mins. (??????? never timed it)
"The crossroads" is the point before you head katikati side. The summit runs up from the crossroads and is a return trip.
One way, straight up, its what..... 40mins. (??????? never timed it)
"The crossroads" is the point before you head katikati side. The summit runs up from the crossroads and is a return trip.
/| , [____],
l----L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)-----)_)
KEEP'N JEEP'N!
l----L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)-----)_)
KEEP'N JEEP'N!
Jerry wrote:I think Mark is well used to lots of bush marks on the whale now
Yeah... warning to all newbies... when Jerry or Mr O organise a trip and say that it will be shiney friendly... don't go!
Hahaha... it was just lucky that we didn't give a rats because that was what we had intended to do in the whale anyway... have fun.
But we bought this nice, beautifully cared for whale without a scratch and they lead us down this:
Classic
Yeah... warning to all newbies... when Jerry or Mr O organise a trip and say that it will be shiney friendly... don't go!
I would like to point out that if you check back you will find it was actually Mr O's trip !!!!, I was just a consultant, so void from any blame (well it works for Govt departments etc).....
Even the guy on the Quad with us was eating gorse.....
;-p
keen as well, but i may take the bike and pop over the katikati side to assess the track for a future trip, and i cant do it on the 30th as i have a ride on out raglan way.
If you already know everything, DON'T ask bloody questions!!
Weve got two trucks going right through both ways on the 3rd of Jan,Starting at Te Aroha side at 7am ,It will be a fast run as its been treated as a practice for upcoming winch challenges,our last run a few weeks ago was from the car park at Katikati to the car park at Te Aroha end in 2 -3/4 hours....
Wow, i would love to follow you guys along on a bike and see how its done!!!!!!!
Na,1 is a hilux running 36"s coiled 80 series diffs (narrowed) custom turbo ,lockers etc and a few other goodies,The other is a GQ turned into a ute custom turbo, lockers,lpg injection,modified pto winch,and a few other goodies,Forgot to mention that the Lux has a Hyd winch that pulls in under full load at over 200 ft per min...Cheers
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mroffroader
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monstr wrote:Na,1 is a hilux running 36"s coiled 80 series diffs (narrowed) custom turbo ,lockers etc and a few other goodies,The other is a GQ turned into a ute custom turbo, lockers,lpg injection,modified pto winch,and a few other goodies,Forgot to mention that the Lux has a Hyd winch that pulls in under full load at over 200 ft per min...Cheers
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!
dam you got any photos!!!!!!! 
80 series tow bus towing a redneck ass vitara 
monstr wrote:Weve got two trucks going right through both ways on the 3rd of Jan,Starting at Te Aroha side at 7am ,It will be a fast run as its been treated as a practice for upcoming winch challenges,our last run a few weeks ago was from the car park at Katikati to the car park at Te Aroha end in 2 -3/4 hours....
damn it ! that would be good to join up with
but alas i start back at work on the 3rd 
If you already know everything, DON'T ask bloody questions!!
monstr wrote:Weve got two trucks going right through both ways on the 3rd of Jan,Starting at Te Aroha side at 7am ,It will be a fast run as its been treated as a practice for upcoming winch challenges,our last run a few weeks ago was from the car park at Katikati to the car park at Te Aroha end in 2 -3/4 hours....
Me and two other guys from down here do it once a year - over and back (bottom gate matamata- Kati carpark and back) in daylight. And it works out that the run over to Katikat allways takes much longer than the way back (nearly x2 as long). The first time we came back it took just 2hrs from the car park to the summit - we were going like the clappers to bet the sunset.
The keys to a sucessfull crossing of the track are pretty basic.
-reliable, well set up truck & driver(doesn't have to be a massive winch truck tho)
-Limit truck numbers in the group, 3 max is ideal.(you can at least add half an hour each way for every extra truck)
-have a good winch bitch that will run cable without being told what to do every couple minutes and work in a rhythm with the other trucks.
-aim to do it in daylight
-dont waste time chatting, find the right lines thru the bogs and all take the same line (dont try what you think may be better at the last minute) -especially thru the bomb site.
-we do it on a working day, that way avoiding the chance of getting held up by traffic (your abit buggered if you get to the bomb site and 5 trucks are in there winching thru!)
easy-peasy, get a team together and give it a crack!
