Background Trip synopsis Why are we doing this?  Sponsorship Trip information Policies and guidelines Contact details [Home]

Trip Synopsis

Why are we doing this?

A 12 day off-road adventure for 48 4WD vehicles travelling from Cape Reinga to Wellington

• ...going places where the main roads don’t go...
• ...seeing sights over the horizon from State Highway 1...
• ...we are going south!

The route will go south...

• from the northern most point of the North Island...
• through Auckland and then head out east to the Bay of Plenty...
• traverse the volcanic plateau back to the west coast...
• head over the hills east and on to the southern most point of the North Island...
• and then on to Wellington for a well deserved knees-up!

The trip is aimed at people with an interest in four wheel driving on a touring basis – not "hard yakka". This means that the trip will be scenic, off the beaten track, challenging but not so difficult as to preclude suitably prepared road vehicles.

Each vehicle will have at least one passenger, so 150+ people will be taking part in one of the most memorable trips from the top to the bottom of the North Island that has ever been undertaken.

With a limit of 12 days to make the journey, the mission of the participants, should they choose to accept it, is to "Go South"!

Why Are We Doing This?

Trip synopsis Sponsorship

A similar trip - the South Island 4WD Experience – was held in February 1998 and everyone who participated had such a great time that we thought someone had to do a North Island one.

It’s not planned as a commercial venture - we don’t want to make anything out of it, just cover the costs. The only beneficiaries of the trip are the sponsors and the participants who will, we hope, go away with similar feelings to those we got from the South Island trip.

With access to the "back blocks" of New Zealand becoming more and more restricted, we are keen to take what opportunities currently exist to enjoy the uniqueness that makes New Zealand special, and, as the Tread Lightly program promotes, we can demonstrate that our recreational trips are compatible with caring for the environment and preserving it for future generations.

It is planned that this will be a quality event which is likely to become a bi-annual event, alternating with the South Island trip which is also in the planning stages for the year 2000.

The trip is being organised by six members of the Cross Country Vehicle Club (Wellington) Inc., but it is not an official "club" event.

Sponsorship

Why are we doing this? Trip information

We have a major sponsor for the trip - BF Goodrich Tires. As the major sponsor, BF Goodrich Tires has naming rights to the trip – i.e. "The BF Goodrich North Island Four Wheel Drive Challenge".

We are looking for additional sponsors to promote their products and services through offering sponsorship in the form of prizes, sponsored dinners and other similar activities.

Planned exposure for sponsors will consist of, but is not limited to:

• Sponsor’s name and logo on all documentation associated with that portion of the trip, such as a dinner or special stage, they are sponsoring
• Promotional literature in all trip participant information packs
• Product discount coupon in trip participant information packs
• Acknowledgement in some documentation and literature

With the growing interest in 4WD touring and the unique nature of the trip, sponsors will receive many benefits:

• The ability to target specific aspects of the trip related to your product / market (this will maximise your exposure to your target audience).
• The 12-day nature of the trip offers consistent exposure to your audience over a period of time.
• The unique nature of the trip encourages participants to retain promotional material after the trip has finished.
• On-going contact with your target audience through product sales e.g. discount coupons.
• As the trip is travelling the length and breadth of the North Island, and will include travelling through, and overnight stays in many towns, you will have access to a wider audience than just the trip participants.

It is envisaged that media coverage is possible - advice will be given to local newspapers and radio stations in places where we are staying for interviews and photo’s etc. Television is definitely interested in covering the event, as are 4WD magazines.

Trip Information

Sponsorship Policies and guidelines

Timing - The trip is to be run from Monday 15 February - Friday 26 February 1999 - 12 days in total, starting at Cape Reinga and ending in Wellington. It is anticipated that it will take three days to get from Cape Reinga to Auckland, another three from Auckland (via Waikato and Bay Of Plenty) to Taupo, three to go from Taupo to Foxton, and three from Foxton to Wellington. There will be no "U" turns or dead-end tracks, otherwise we won’t make the finish deadline on Friday 26 February 1999.

Entrants - It is planned to have 12 teams of four vehicles. Each team will only be responsible for their own team members, but would of course assist other teams as necessary. The participants will all follow route notes (made on earlier preliminary trips) and there will be trip marshals to mark the route as necessary and follow along afterwards to pick up any markers, etc.

Accommodation - Once the exact route is known, a list of accommodation facilities available for each night will be compiled. The list will be circulated to participants, and it is up to them to book whatever they wish. Some accommodation may be group booked and incorporated into the entry fee.

Supplies (Fuel / Food etc) - A similar list will be made up for fuel, food, etc. supplies and everyone left to do their own thing. A number of "get together" type functions (eg. dinners) are also planned throughout the trip – at the beginning, middle and end. The final night dinner will include a prize giving ceremony for all participants.

Trip Policies and Guidelines

Trip information Contact details

Through the Cross Country Vehicle Club (Wellington) Inc. the trip organisers are all members of Tread Lightly! and will be running the trip strictly under their guidelines. Tread Lightly! is an international 4WD organisation that promotes the philosophy of "take only pictures and leave only footprints".

Trip policies and guidelines are based on safety, fostering relationships between different 4WD clubs, building friendships between people with an interest in 4 wheel driving, seeing some fantastic scenery, experiencing as much off-road driving as possible, running the trip on a cost recovery basis and most of all having fun!

A full list of trip policies and guidelines is available if required.

Contact Details

Policies and guidelines

Further information on the trip and sponsorship can be obtained from:

Alan Donaldson PO Box 31178 Lower Hutt Ph 04 564 3045 (home) 04 619 0812 (work) or 025 448 089 email: alan.donaldson@xtra.co.nz

David Jones PO Box 30-756 Lower Hutt Ph 04 567 6464 (home) 04 569 3352 (work) or 025 452 500 email: selighutt@xtra.co.nz

Rachel Wilson PO Box 1043 Wellington Ph 04 472 1374 (home) 04 460 1907 (work) or 025 435 243 email: rachel.wilson@hbl.co.nz

The North Island Four Wheel Drive Challenge is being put together by a small dedicated group of 4WD ENTHUSIASTS (all experienced club members) on a non-profit cost-recovery basis.

[Home]