42nd Traverse Working Bee

[AnalogKid]

Appologies, this took place 3 weeks ago now, but I've been snowed under by work, and the need to lie on a beach at the weekend.

The New Zealand 4 Wheel Drive Association received is annual invitation from the Department of Conservation to attend a working bee to help clear vegetation from the track known as the 42nd Traverse, in the Tongariro national Park, central North Island. The club I belong to, the Land Rover Owners Club Auckland, has traditionally had a strong showing at this event that does wonders to put off-roaders in the good books of the government department that owns all the best land. So this year I thought I better go along.

Its about a 5 hour drive out of Auckland (although that goes up to 6 with the Friday afternoon traffic we had to endure). So to make the most of the weekend, Brett, a long serving club member organised accomodation in the township of National Park and a day's recreational off-roading at a private site near Taumaranui called 'Go Bush'. Most of the pictures are from that event, as we were too busy hacking back the bush in the swealtering heat on the Sunday to be bothered to take pictures of the track clearance. We were rewardred, however, after a barbecue lunch, with the chance to complete the entire 42nd Traverse track. I can tell you that its a stunner. Although mostly gravel, the few muddy sections and a few river crossings add to the interest, along with steep climbs and tight turns between banks so high and tight that escape from the vehicle would only have been possible via the sunroof (I have a dog guard fittted). Pictures to follow.

[AnalogKid]

Pictures 1 and 2 were taken from the car park of 'The Park', which is like an up-market backpackers lodge, but with en-suite double and twin rooms. They show Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe respectively. Picture 3 is the entrance to said establishment.

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Pictures 4 and 5 show the collection of vehicles waiting to start the day's activities at Go Bush.

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[AnalogKid]

We drove the main track at Go Bush, between their reception building and their guest lodge, deep in the bush at the head of the Whangnui River. This is a working track so we had to be careful not to damage it. They run Suzuki Vitaras with 650x15 tractor tread tyres for guests to plays on more extreme tracks, but we didn't get to those for reasons that will become clear. Picture 6 shows one of the many spectacular view points as we climbed out of one valley and over the ridge.

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The Hairpin bend shown in Picture 7 required a 3-point turn in the 110 on the way down the other side. It was more like 7 points on the way back up, mainly because I ddn't have a spotter and the drop through those fairly insubstantial tree ferns is a couple of hundred feet.

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Eventually we got down to the river with no real drama, I didn't lock the centre diff the whole way down. It was a spectacular location though, as seen in Picture 8. Just as we were readying ourselves for the return journey, the guests that were staying at the riverside lodge came back from a horse-ride through some of the wilder bush (Picture 9). Other activities available are trout fishing and bow-hunting for deer, goat and boar.

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For the way back up, everything changed. About 5 minutes of rain turned the steep, lower sections of the track into a very real challenge. The mud was clay-based and those of us with ATs struggled. I needed a tow on the hill shown in Picture 10, although I might of made it if I'd tried again in 3rd low instead of 2nd (too much wheel spin and not enough forward speed). Meanwhile, Ian just used plenty of right foot and let the traction control take care of business in his P38A wearing Bridgestone Duellers!

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[AnalogKid]

It was getting pretty late by the time we got back to the reception hut and the lunch time barbecue was more like tea-time. Still, we had a fantastic spread with the centre piece being a leg of venison that had been shot by bow and arrow on the site a week earlier. Meanwhile (Picture 11) my son and one of the other lads mucked about in kayaks on a small lake beside the hut.

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One of the more rmarkable vehicles on our trip was Tim's 90. It has a 3.9 fuel injected V8 and 2" of suspension and another 2" of body lift. In Picture 12 its shown wearing 13x38x16 Super swampers next to my 110 with standard suspension and 235X85R16 ATs.

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Finally, Picture 13 shows a rest stop on the Sunday's track clearing exercise, and Picture 14 is of the final river that, thankfully, was crossed by bridge (although the bridge was so narrow that Tim's 90 was rubbing its tyres on the base of the hand rail). From my maps Im faily certain that its the Whakapapa River.

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http://www.gobush.co.nz/

[toppa]

:confused:


Thanks Anglo!!! Really helping my homesickness....


Great pictures, good deer shooting down that way too..


Cheers

[ahebron]

Andy those photos bring back great memories of a day spent with the Go Bush boys filming a TVC. We had a local 4wd club take us and our gear in to the hut and out again. One of the 4wds had a trailer on the back that just dragged around wherever the car went.
I was well impressed with your report of the P38 climbing out on the greasy hill, it was hard enough walking up it in the dry

[AnalogKid]

Was that the Pam's ad?

If so, we met the chef at the hut by the river. He's an interesting guy but he doesn't come cheap if you want his services for the weekend. I think he shares his time between Go Bush and another place near Roturoa.

[ahebron]

Yes it was the Pams ad.
On another topic seeing your 110 keeps an itch going I have had for a while to get another Land Rover. I had a 1985 County 110 V8 10 years ago and like the idea of a 130 crew cab or a 110 pick up.

[AnalogKid]

Whereabouts are you? If its anywhere near Auckland, there's some real beauties available in Forward Specs, Henderson. Not cheap but they do a full recon on older models. 30K for the CSWs with Tdi engines, utility models and V8s are a bit cheaper. Don't see many 130s around though, which is a shame.

[AnalogKid]

Oh, by the way, regarding the P38, I was talking to Ian's son on Monday. He tells me that the speedo was reading 120 km/h up that hill, while I don't think the actual speed was over 25. Just goes to show you need to give it plenty for the traction control to kick in and do its stuff.

[ahebron]

Hmmm, thats the problem bit "not cheap". I have been to Forwards website and had a look, lovely bits of kit.
I am in Wellington.
There was a 1989 TD 130 crew cab sold on Trademe the other week for $14000. I was tempted but 2 bidders had a bidding war so I just watched.