March 2020

Trip reports galore....

Summer in the south has been and gone..... for those who indulge in the post lunch snooze.... you might have missed it.... 

In this issue you can read Chris Thompsons 2 trip reports covering the end of Jan trips..

Susan and Graham Clark have written a report on the Omarama trip run in February

Julie Pringle has written a report on the recent forestry run organised by Donald Taylor

A big thank you to these members

Susy Anderson has written a very appeciative thankyou letter

Photos from these trips have been loaded to the club web site

Time now to enjoy the glorious colours that come with the autumn season

Ian Vercoe - Club Treasurer

Presidents Narrative..

Hi everybody,

Well this newsletter has come around quickly and with two good trips in quick succession it has been nice to get out to have some good days out.

Many thanks to Richard and Allison Wade for their different and interesting Omarama trip and again Allison for the great start to the day with hot scones and a cup of tea and a great dose of hospitality.

This trip took us up very high very quickly with stunning views in all directions. 

Many thanks to Donald and Shirley Taylor for putting together a short notice trip that took the club through Donald’s forestry block and finished the day on The Hectors.  Once again it was an enjoyable day with Donald keeping everyone amused with his signage and the explanations.

Coming up is the Combined Club Trip – hosts the Central Otago Club  - based around Alexandra.  Please see full details further through the magazine on outlines for the weekend and who to ring to book in.  At this stage numbers attending from our club are low but don’t let that put you off as the hospitality is generous and the itinerary looks good.

Also coming up is Mt Cook Station.  This trip was to be earlier but on request the date was pushed out to Sunday, 26 April. This trip is to be a day trip and full notification will follow.

The club has further trips in the planning and we will endeavour to keep you informed as early as possible.  Should you have some contacts or ideas that you think the club would enjoy, please don’t hesitate to let us know as no idea is a bad idea and we all enjoy the days out.

Just a polite reminder to members that club rules are there to help us to enjoy the outings and to keep us safe.  Good convoy procedures ensures fluidity of the trip and keeps tail-end Charlies blood pressure down; gate opening etiquette where everyone has a turn, helps share the lollies around and finally, good communication with good radios (installed preferably)  tuned to Channel 16 to receive and give clear instructions.  If you have lost your copy of the club rules and want to refresh yourself, they can be found on the club website.

Have a good month Stan

Club web site address

To view the club's web site click on this address     www.no4wd.co.nz

Upcoming events..

March - Combined clubs - Central Otago 4wd Club - Alexandra

April - Glenmore Station - 2 day trip - Date to be confirmed (4th/5th April or 18th/19th)

           Accommoation options Tekapo

April (late) - Mt Cook Station - social trip

From the archives #1

In March last year the club members enjoyed a run up to the Awakino Ski field area and were privelaged to a brief talk by the late Jim Chapman on his families history and association with the area.

Trip info schedule - Combined Clubs - Central Otago 4wd Club

Date: 20th March 2020

Info required...

Registrations now close Friday 13th March with the following information required:

Attendee name(s) 

Email 

Contact / Mobile phone no

Club 

Vehicle Registration no            

Vehicle year, make, model, colour 

Numbers for Friday meal         

Numbers for Saturday meal           

Are you a Club NZ Member?              Yes / No

Address 

Any questions? Please feel free to contact us. Brent Wilson President 

Ph 03 448 8613 0274 503 008
Central Otago Four Wheel Drive Club Inc P O Box 314 Alexandra email: co4wdc@gmail.com

Member: New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association

Itinerary
Friday 20th March from 6pm
Informal registration, drinks and informal get together at Monteiths, 26 Centennial Avenue,
Alexandra. For menu see https://www.mbba.co.nz/ ph. 03 448 9189
Please advise if you intend to eat at Monteiths so we can ensure they have room.

Saturday and Sunday Trip
The trips will be easy to medium (Grade 2, possibly 3) Recent rains have affected some tracks so we’ve had to make changes to our original plans. Please bring usual recovery gear and spares to suit.
If in doubt, please ask! Usual convoy rules apply and Channel 11 for communications.

Saturday 21st March
8.30am at the Ice-Skating car park at the northern (Clyde) end of Alexandra for briefing,
vehicle count before embarking on the days trip up Waikaia Bush Road, along to Hyde Rock
then via Kopuwai Ridge 4WD track. We have DOC permission to deviate from the 4WD track
down past Boundary Hut to the Old Gold Workings at the headwaters of the Fraser River and
stop for lunch before meeting up with the 4WD track to the Old Woman Hut and on to
Duffers Saddle, past the Young Australian Water Wheel, down the Carrick Town Track to
Bannockburn before returning to Alexandra.
BYO lunch, drinks, cameras and warm clothing.
6pm (ish) onwards Alexandra District Club, 35 Centennial Avenue
Bistro meal, drinks and get together - Meals range from $16 to $30 see menu here
https://alexandraclub.net.nz/restaurant/
Order and pay at the counter.
As part of Club NZ there are reciprocal rights with other clubs throughout NZ. (Alexandra
District Club, Club Southland, Oamaru Club etc. If you are not a member we will need to sign
you in so you can buy drinks etc.

Sunday 22nd March
9.00 am at the Ice-Skating car park at the northern (Clyde) end of Alexandra for briefing,
vehicle count before embarking on the days trip.
Up to the new Fraser River Hydro scheme for a tour then linking up through private
farmland to the Obelisk before heading down Symes Road and out to our club grounds (or
the Lower Manorburn) for lunch -depending on the river levels and track conditions.
BYO lunch, drinks, cameras and warm clothing.
Plan to finish early to mid-afternoon to allow for the drive home

Committee 2019 - 2020

President: Stan Dorsey     Ph:03 4348610, 0274325740

Vice President: Les Weir    Ph:03 4342367, 02743422188

Secretary: Garth Dovey    Ph:03 4371851, 02102008273

Treasurer: Ian Vercoe     Ph:03 4452796, 0211708030

Trip Coordinator Ron Pringle    Ph:03 4347537, 021476635

Committee members

Greg McFarlane    Ph:03 4372734, 0272294399

Noel Bain    Ph:03 4371849, 02128 9001

Russell Thompson    Ph:03 4343247, 0221914690

Social Convenor: Les Weir

Civil Defence co-ordinator: Stan Dorsey

Trip Advisor: Keith Rowland   Ph:03 4346089, 0276693262

Newsletter co-ordinator: Jennifer Dorsey

Club web site    www.no4wd.co.nz

Club committee meeting issues discussed - thank you letter from Susie Anderson

The last meeting for the club was held Tuesday evening 18th February:

Matters discussed; Correspondance was received from Lena Klenner advising that Battery Town Auto Electric are discontinuing their discount offer to club members.

Thank you letter from Susie Anderson

Dear everyone,

A huge thank you for the kindness of sending flowers at the time Jim Passed away.  No one can really describe the feeling when this happens, but the kindness of everyone does really help.

I also want to say how much we have enjoyed being part of the club, we really enjoyed the trips and the friendships made, not to mention how much two old high country farmers enjoyed getting to places we could not have otherwise seen or been to. 
A very heartfelt thank you to everyone.I will certainly treasure all the great memories

Yours with thanks Susie Anderson

Trip Report - Day 1 Wanaka weekend January

We woke to dark clouds over the top of Lake Wanaka, as we travelled around to Donald & Shirley’s house for our briefing and departure point, we observed a rainbow, we were off to traverse the Pisa Range, it was windy, hot & dusty, not to mention a bit bumpy.

It was just as well that I had no paper or pen so did not need to make notes whilst trying to hold on.  We observed some fabulous views. 

As we travelled on our way we came upon Lake McKay,( the headwaters of Luggate Creek)  where we noticed that a hiker had walked in and had erected a tent at the end of the Lake, he probably didn’t expect 15 Four Wheel drive vehicles to come bouncing along and spoiling his peace and quiet. One member had a close look at him with binoculars and observed that he was checking us out with binoculars too... 

We travelled a little bit further to a gully that offered a bit of shelter where we had a lunch stop.  We were at 1963 metres at the highest point, stunning views.  Donald had a track in mind for us to get back down on but it proved a bit tricky to find and we did a bit of back tracking before making our way down, Bill Barclay had a flat tyre as we were descending, and required assistance as it was the tyre on the outside edge. 

Back to Wanaka for a shower to wash the dust off, then around to Donald & Shirley’s for an awesome meal and a great social evening.

Chris Thompson

Trip Report - Day 2 Wanaka weekend

Sunday, Calm and 17degrees  12 vehicles met at Minaret again for briefing, and again Donald gave us an amusing thought for the day, he mentioned absent friends – members who had passed in the last year. 

Leaving Wanaka at 9.30 through Luggate, 21 degrees.  Collecting 3 more vehicles at Cromwell.  Brief stop at Bannockburn to book a meal for the group at the pub. We travelled on to Kawerau Station where we collected the station owner Richard Anderson, a gentleman with a lot of interesting local knowledge. Also a good sense of humour  quoting a saying in the Bannockburn area – you can do what you like with my wife but don’t touch my water.  

We had a look around the old farm house and woolshed. The station was established in 1858  by the Young Australian mining  company, ran 72.000 merinos and had 50 rabbiters who skinned the rabbits and the skins were shipped back to England. The station now has 20,000 acres 9.000 sheep and 300 cattle. The station integrated 2 other properties from the Remarkables to  Gibbston. Richards parents came to New Zealand as gold miners in  1862 and established the first accommodation house in the area before taking on the farm.

We left the farm and headed up Wong Road to enter The Young Australian Historic reserve where they did a lot of mining. Through the Carrick Town area and we stopped at the top to observe hang gliders attempting  to launch from the top of the ridge. It was a great view from here. The property goes through to below Mt Difficulty, they run four and a half thousand weathers in the hills and bring them in twice a year. At Slapjack Saddle we  had the pleasure of an interesting gate configuration where I had to open and close to get the vehicles through one at a time drafting style which led to some interesting comments about drafting the rams from the ewes.

We travelled on and stopped at a Hut nestled in a gully, where we had a quick cuppa and comfort stop. We followed pylons down the gully and the thyme was giving off a beautiful aroma as we drove past it.  We stopped on a knoll for a view if the Nevis River on one side and Kawerau River on the other. We were looking down on the Kawerau Swing experience where we watched a brave sole leap down and swing back and forth above the river, then being pulled back up a quite a fast pace, - not for me I much prefer my feet on solid ground. We observed a lot of traffic heading along the main road below us. It was very hot thank goodness for air conditioning.

We traversed all the way along Mt Difficulty and stopped at the highest point where there are several transmitters and cell phone towers.( Four and a half thousand feet.)  a fantastic view, we travelled into Porters conservation area and had a view over the Nevis Valley, Cone Peak, Ben Nevis and Homestead, Craig Roy, Nevis Homestead, Mt Rosa, Coal Creek which feed the water race, Glenaray the biggest privately owned farm in New Zealand, ( Garvie Range).

Richard stated the it took 14 years to come to an agreement over the release of tenure reviews.

He gave an interesting tale of how he had been out on his horse going through near the swampy gullies when he spotted a nice up market hat lying on the ground, he dismounted and picked it up only to find a head under it,  to which the bloke said hell mate I’m pleased to see you, so Richard put a rope around him from his horse – the bloke said – hang on mate I’ll get my feet out of the stirrups.  HOW TALL IS THAT STORY – OR SHOULD THAT BE DEEP.

We travelled on and came down to a gate (Locked by the Anderson family) Passed the Mt Difficulty Homestead built in 1912.– now the winery, this is where Donald thanked Richard for a very interesting trip with great history and information passed on. 

Thanks were expressed again to Donald and Shirley for a great weekend of 4WD enjoyed by all. We stopped at the Bannockburn Pub for dinner and a natter before dispersing.

Chris Thompson

Trip Report : Omarama, fresh scones and coffee and a 4wd trip...

On Sunday 9th February 2020 saw 14 4 Wheel Drive Vehicles converge on Richard and Alison Wades property at Omarama for an unforgettable day out.
We were welcomed at Richards and Alison’s with fresh creamed scones that were much appreciated by all.  Richard briefed members on the day’s trip and the land owner’sexpectations of us for allowing us on the property.  These expectations were veryreasonable and nothing less than we would have expected for the privilege to be on anyone’s property. 

Members paid $25 per vehicle that was being donated to the Omarama Search and Rescue.
After morning tea we headed off on a 59km off road trip. 

This trip saw us travel in the hills behind Omarama climbing at one point to 1,550 metres on Mt St Cuthberts that provided views of
•    Ahuriri Valley            
•    Lake Ohau
•    Lake Pukaki
•    Mount Cook
•    Lake Benmore
•    Lake Aviemore
•    Lake Waitaki
•    and the Omarama Township
Overhead we had Gliders souring while on the ground we had several sightings of pigs, in one area we saw 7 pigs.
The investment in irrigation was very evident with large areas of green pasture.
The day ended with us meeting the owners of Omarama Station, Richard and Annabelle Subtil.  Annabelle is a 3rd generation of the Wardell family to own this Station. Richard provided us with some history about the station that consists of 11,000 ha and carries 7,000 sheep and their progeny along with 300 breading cows and their progeny.
The day ended at about 5:00pm with some members heading home while others headed off for a meal.
Thank you Richard and Alison for a wonderful experience.
Susan and Graham Clark   

Trip Report: Forestry Trip Dunrobin area

Sunday 1st of March 13 trucks left the South Hill New World, on a beautiful Summer’s day, even though it was the first day of Autumn.

Donald, our Leader, led us out at 10.30am, heading South, then West towards Five Forks.

We came unstuck here and circumstances showed us all the importance of our convoy rules!! The truck in front waits for the following truck, especially when turning in a different direction.

After we all caught up, we headed into Whitstone-Five Forks Road and onto an Alpine Forest of Radiata Pine, planted out at 1,000 trees a hectare. We were greeted by several pheasants at the gate and throughout the tour came across many deer, (a whitetail stag, tan and black) all running freely on the property. They even get fed during the winter!

Apparently, those deer were fairly friendly a few years ago but sadly, poachers have spooked them and they now run to protect themselves. Posters attached to trees read “Poachers Beware…. We Don’t Ring 111. Cameras in Use.”  

Donald gave a very informative commentary throughout the trip, allowing us to understand a little about forestry and what has been done in the past and the changes that happen now. Many of the trees were over 30 years old and are harvested around the 34-year-old mark. Some of the replanted areas were planted about 2/12years and 3 years ago and the trees are 6-8ft tall already, although some areas are doing better than others because of the extreme winds etc.

Thank goodness we had a leader as the tracks went in all sorts of directions, criss-crossing each other and snaking around trees. All the tracks were well named, and I recognised a few, e.g. Moss’s Track, Shadow’s short cut, Shirley’s Road, Trustee Tom’s Blk, and even a sign to identify Shirley’s Falls. (Water falls of course). With Donald’s wicked sense of humour, you never know what is true and what is not. Mistress Blk was questioned and a genuine answer was given, I think!
We had many opportunities to look out to Weston, Kauru Hill, Parkside Quarry and surrounds. We viewed telephones attached to trees…why??? To call the fire brigade???

Another story from Donald, led us to our lunch stop, “where the bears live” and sure enough they were still there! After lunch Donald escorted us through the forest again, organising the major task of turning 13 trucks around in confined spaces. Once we were all going in the right direction, we left the forest, past the Fuchsia Creek School Memorial plaque (1927- 1949) and travelled to Martin and Janine Parson’s farm, (which raises sheep and very healthy Hereford cattle), to the site of the memorial for John and Nola Parsons, of “The Hectors”, former NO4WD club members. What an amazing view, and at 2,500ft you could see for miles.

Thank you to Martin and Janine.
Thank you again Donald and Shirley for another very interesting trip.
Prado EZL682 - Julie and Ron

An 'out there' project..

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