Monday 15 January 2001
Stage
Outline
E Team having lunch on the track just prior to coming down to Orongorongo
River.
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The first day of our trip starts at Harcourt Holiday Park in Upper Hutt, with the first team of vehicles leaving at 0900. From Upper Hutt we head by road over to Whiteman’s Valley where we head off road over farmland ending up on the Eastern Hills firebreaks overlooking Lower Hutt City. This is a controversial part of Lower Hutt as the council currently have a ban on all motorised recreational vehicles in the area, and is the subject of much public debate. A magnificent panoramic view from Upper Hutt in the north to the Wellington Harbour heads in the south greets those that stop and look.
After coming down from the firebreaks via the Wainuiomata Hill Road we skirt around the harbour through Eastbourne and Burdan’s Gate to Pencarrow Station. We pass through the station, exiting on the other side of the hills in the lower Wainuiomata valley. Then it’s over another set of hills via the Cattle Ridge track to the Orongoronga Valley. From here we follow the North Island’s southern coastline around to the Wairarapa and a final road drive to our first destination, Lake Ferry. Just prior to getting to Lake Ferry there is a compulsory fuel stop for everyone at Pirinoa, as it is two days to our next petrol supply and two and a half until those with diesel vehicles will set a bowser again.
Smoko and view stop on the Esatern Hutt hills
Trip Report Monday 15 January 2001
Samantha Eyres, 10
Team AWhat do you call a holiday waking up at 6:30 in the morning? A 4WD holiday!
This morning we climbed the firebreaks of Eastern Hutt Hills for spectacular views of Wellington. The first time vehicles were allowed there for several years. Then we drove along Eastbourne Beach and stopped for coffee. This was an opportunity for the kids to explore, who came back with beautiful paua shells. Further along we saw the Pencarrow Lighthouse. Then up more hills and through a river where we stopped for lunch and enjoyed sunshine and new friends. Then in the afternoon we followed the Orongorongo Coast line, stopping at a seal colony and lucky enough later to see a large pod of dolphins. We even managed to find mud this afternoon. So now we know 4 wheel driving.
Icecreams at Pirinoa completed a great first day!
Ignatius Menzies, 16
Team MM2
It was an excellent first day – scenic with a variety of terrain: the Hutt fire breaks, Pencarrow Coast roads, Orongorongo forest, dirt tracks and possibly 7 metres of mud. As someone said on the radio it was a shame Wellington didn’t turn on a really good day, but the sun was really enough to silence any Aucklander. And the lovely views of the South Island silenced some of the staunch Wellingtonians as well!
After musing for some time as to what MM2 stands for we had narrowed it down to Mad Menzies or Mobile Manager and decided to ask for help! A helpful Ron told us it meant Marshall’s Mate.
We were directed to join Team “H” – that brought their Rover to Nissan ratio to 2:1 and because of that we left on time. The driving etiquette of the teams was excellent. It was great to see them waiting at each corner and warning us on the radio about the obstacles coming up.
We finished the day at the Lake Ferry Hotel and are presently enjoying views of the picturesque hills and turbulent sea.
NOTICE
We expect to be out of range of telephones and cellphones for the next couple of days, so the next Trip Reports might not appear straight away. We have arranged for each day’s route details to appear though!
On another subject, technology has beaten us with the interface between camera and computer, so we haven’t been able to send in the digital photos we have been taking during the trip. So far anyway – once we solve this challenge, we will catch up with the backlog.
See also: Wellington Evening Post article
The map below shows the route followed the Challenge vehicles today.
Map portions used with permission of Wises
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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