Todays Trip Report

Today got off to an early start (due to a high tide at 10am) with the vehicles heading convoy style north up Ninety Mile Beach. The Tasman Sea takes no prisoners, as one of the Northland tour operators found on last year when they lost a bus to the surf and sand, so everyone was careful to give the Tasman a suitably wide margin.

Stops of interest on this first leg included the round knob at Hukatere, Motupia Island and Te Paki stream, the exit point. While this is not the end of the beach, it is the last vehicle exit and it's another 6 km to Scott Point which the incoming tide put out of reach.  From here, the convoy headed up the famous Te Paki stream putting up some impressive spray, then on through Te Paki Station keeping a wary eye out for wandering cattle, and on to Cape Reinga Park and a stop and walk down to NZ’s most famous lighthouse.

Leaving at five minute intervals, each group now travelled south (well you can’t go north any more can you) by road to Kaitaia, then via State Hwy 1 to Takahue Road, just after the township of Pamapuna.

Turning right for Takahue and taking the 'no exit' road on the left past the "New Hall", the vehicles made their way along a track which is used for a farm race so it is narrow and slippery in places along the ascent. From here it was back onto the tar seal and on to Kohukohu and the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene.

From Rawene, the next stage went via SH12 through Opononi, which was once famous for the Dolphin known as "Opo" who adopted the Hokainga Harbour as his home. His memorial statue resides outside the hotel.

Next stop, Signal Station Hill for a photo of the golden sands on the Harbour's north head then on through Waimamaku before entering the Waipoua Forest. The forest is the only reminder of what most of Northland was like in pre-European times. Fortunately it was spared the axe and saw because of its remoteness and the foresight of some early politicians.

Highlights from here included a stop at the big tree "Tane Mahuta", and Lookout Road with its grand overview of the Waipoa, then Trounson Kauri Park. This is where a stand of younger Kauri trees are, and is the site for D.O.C s first "land island" trial. This is being conducted to try and restore the population of native birds to the park back to what it was 15 years ago, before Opossums and feral Cats ravaged them. The trial is along the lines of those undertaken on the offshore Islands.

The final stage followed the tar seal for the short trip to Whatoro – this is where the Kauri Coast Motor Camp is and the end of day 1.

Once everyone had pitched camp, we all enjoyed a great barbeque laid on by the trip organisers - a welcome sight after a full day's driving.

Distance covered: 374Km

 

---

Route Map

The map below shows the route followed the Challenge vehicles today.

 
Hutt Valley Nissan - Williams and Adams - Pudney and Lee Wormalds
Johnson, Lawrence & Elder

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