Todays Trip Report

Second to last day - amazing how quickly the time has gone! Today we leave Upper Hutt and head over to the Wairarapa coast then round Cape Paliser and end up at Lake Ferry for the night.

First off road bit was on some forestry roads through Tunnel Gully. This followed the original route of the railway that went from Wellington to the Wairarapa over the top of the ranges using special engines called Fell Engines that had a third track for braking. It even included a very dark and narrow tunnel with a sign at the start warning anyone entering it that they do so at their own risk.

Cape Paliser Lighthouse from the ground

From here we used the main highway over the Rimutuka Hill to Featherston where we stopped and had a look at a museum housing the last surviving Fell Engine in the world. After this we head for the coast past a wind turbine farm and onto some farm tracks at a place called Tora.

Then we just followed the coastline south, navigating various obstacles such as steep bluffs and run aground fishing boats till we got to Cape Paliser. This is the southern most point of the North Island and the lighthouse is accessed by way of approx. 200 or so steps - but the view was worth the climb.

Between here and Lake Ferry we traveled via the road and the beach - the later being very soft and necessitating some to deflate tyres a bit to allow forward progress. The evening was spent in the Lake Ferry Hotel eating a very enjoyable meal and the putting away the odd pint of ale.

 

Rock Formations at White Rocks

View of coastline on eastern side of the North Island	Coastline on the way to Lake Ferry

 

Distance covered:  Km

 

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Route Map

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

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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.

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