Manukau
Four Wheel Drive Club
Four Wheel Drive Club
More Info on Maratoto
Date:
Fri 09 April 2010
Trip Leader:
Contact Number:
We arrived at the start of the Whangamata track at 9:30 am and dropped tyre pressure in the parking area by the ford.
There were a couple of 4WD ‘s parked with transporters there, so someone else with serious trucks was ahead of us. The track was not as dry as two months earlier making it more challenging and fun.
I was in my ’91 Suzuki Vitata and Phil was in his newly converted Hi-Lux ute. As Phil hadn’t fitted a winch yet and was on 33” Silverstones he went in front, so if he got stuck I could winch him back.
Half way to the River Inn he went through an innocent looking puddle ( on a flat straight piece of track) and the left side of the Hi-Lux went into a hole half-way up the door (see photo).A quick winch from my Suzi ( Phils old truck) saw him back on the track(see photo).
The ABC Rocks were no trouble, we went up the middle. We wanted to find the old steam engine used to haul logs and teamed up with another 4WD group who quickly located it. E2756354 N6433946.
From here to the Kauri dam is ¾ hr bush-bash up stream. Back on the track and through the Tairua River to lunch stop at the River Inn, an old hunters lean-to.
Another 4WD group from Tauranga pulled up for a chat ( tyres, lockers/slippey’s, lifts etc,etc) . They were heading up around the Wires Loop track. After our lunch we followed, only to find them well stuck in the first bog hole. They had 6 trucks to get through the metre deep mud . The younger drivers used more right foot than brain power, it was fun to watch.
We turned around and headed back out noting how different a track can be when you’re going in the other direction. No dramas were had on the way and we were soon back at the ford to change Phil’s tyres for the run home.
Gerard Fagan
There were a couple of 4WD ‘s parked with transporters there, so someone else with serious trucks was ahead of us. The track was not as dry as two months earlier making it more challenging and fun.
I was in my ’91 Suzuki Vitata and Phil was in his newly converted Hi-Lux ute. As Phil hadn’t fitted a winch yet and was on 33” Silverstones he went in front, so if he got stuck I could winch him back.
Half way to the River Inn he went through an innocent looking puddle ( on a flat straight piece of track) and the left side of the Hi-Lux went into a hole half-way up the door (see photo).A quick winch from my Suzi ( Phils old truck) saw him back on the track(see photo).
The ABC Rocks were no trouble, we went up the middle. We wanted to find the old steam engine used to haul logs and teamed up with another 4WD group who quickly located it. E2756354 N6433946.
From here to the Kauri dam is ¾ hr bush-bash up stream. Back on the track and through the Tairua River to lunch stop at the River Inn, an old hunters lean-to.
Another 4WD group from Tauranga pulled up for a chat ( tyres, lockers/slippey’s, lifts etc,etc) . They were heading up around the Wires Loop track. After our lunch we followed, only to find them well stuck in the first bog hole. They had 6 trucks to get through the metre deep mud . The younger drivers used more right foot than brain power, it was fun to watch.
We turned around and headed back out noting how different a track can be when you’re going in the other direction. No dramas were had on the way and we were soon back at the ford to change Phil’s tyres for the run home.
Gerard Fagan
Click on any image to enlarge
