The Manawatu 4WD Club ventured west to Ngamatapouri in neighbouring Taranaki for this year’s Canteen Safari. Murray Taylor ‘tagged along’ to tell the story. 

This year’s Safari was run over the March 09-10 weekend, but with the dates and venue decided on and advertised back in November last year it gave everyone from near and far plenty of notice, meaning a larger than expected number of registrations, with both additions and the odd pull out right up until the last minute. 

Phillip and his team from the Manawatu 4WD Club certainly put in the hours and the hard work, checking the tracks, organizing all the many items large and small along the way, with plenty of pre-event emails to keep the appetite whetted, right up until it was time to head out the gate and point the nose of the ‘ole Patrol west for Ngamatapouri and the campsite at the rugby ground.

The run over the Pahiatua Track and through Palmerston North was uneventful except for the odd drop of rain on the windscreen, not a good sign, with the dampness increasing as Wanganui was left behind and the Waitotara Valley was approached.

It’s a nice long haul up the valley, being approx. 41 kms before the turnoff, and – taking my own sweet time, it was mid-afternoon before I reached the Makakaho Junction, crossed the bridge, and just a short distance further on found that the rugby field was already a hive of activity.

Various vehicles and make shift camps were either set up or in the process of being set up around the edges with a large marquee going up by the rugby posts. Because it was raining steadily by this stage I quickly found a place to camp, parked up, donned my raincoat on, and got to work.

Once that was sorted it was time to catch up with friends old and new between the rain showers, check in at registration and, well, the rest of the afternoon just seemed to fly by.

Run what ‘ya brung

It’s always good at events like this one to check out the type of 4x4s that turn up, and it was great to see such a collection of different vehicles on site; from a custom-built one-tonne Holden ute on older Patrol running gear to a bog-standard Mazda BT-50, 200-Series Toyota Land Cruiser and later model Toyota 70 series, plus the largest number of late model Nissan Patrols on a Safari for a number of years. 

It’s also always interesting to see the various camping arrangements, from the basic one or two-person tent, to larger more luxurious tents, a good number of roof top tents, a home-built tear drop and old-style camping trailers to the latest caravan, even a camper van. 

All of which made for an interesting – and I must say, well-fed – campsite when the BBQ truck backed into the shelter of the marquee and the BBQ was set up, a sausage sizzle (gold coin) one of the weekend’s fund-raising activities.

Philip (being Irish) had indicated early on in his emails that the weekend would be very dependant on the weather, but I suspect he forgot to instruct his tame Leprechaun to take control of the skies.

What he (the tame Leprechaun) did do was organise a coffee cart/truck (for the Aucklanders attending, apparently) which proved a hit from the moment it opened for business. It also meant one and all talked etc while waiting for their lattes, flat whites or short blacks.

Once everyone had had their fill of sausages and coffees a pre-weekend briefing was held at 9.00pm. At it we were told that the original plan to start at 8.00am the next morning was on hold, due to the weather conditions, with a call to be made for a later start at a further briefing at 10.00am on Saturday; the hope being that the rain would stop and allow the ground to dry.

As I headed to bed and fell asleep the rain was still falling on the tent roof, however, the morning dawned overcast and clearing with a hint of sun, the rain having stopped during the night which was a good sign. 

Briefing time came around rather quickly, and though the rain put paid to the original plan of six different groups we were there for a tag-along-style Safari and that is exactly what we got.

First up, best dressed?

First up it a short haul up valley to look at the local power generator, the waterfall and some the history in the woolshed, then back to camp, where we parked up and walked the 200m to Ngamatapouri Hall to pick up our lunch, which a large group enjoyed sitting in the shade of some Poplar trees across the road.

Then that day’s trip really started with the assembled trucks crossing the bridge and heading down valley to do the Lakes Road Loop, the original road in and out of the valley along what is now known as Kaimanuka Road. The original construction of the road/track dates back to 1893 and was in use up until 1927 when the present road was started. 

Turning right into Kaimanuka Road it was into 4WD as the trucks moved along the single lane road as we moved up the track past the farm house and onto the real track. The road/track was damp in places under the rubber and you needed to concentrate to ensure you didn’t slip off the track and into the water table... as one vehicle did!

The track climbed slowly up through regrowth and farm land for some 300 vertical metres passing under and around a 353m high knob, then dropped back down again with impressive views looking down into the Waitotara Valley and beyond.

Not long though and we were into pine trees as the track headed along the ridgeline; still not that wide but open enough so you could see ahead a bit more. The pace slowed down as well as the trucks dropped down a short steep section of track (which needed a bit of care), through a gate and past a number of bee hives.

Hive of activity

Bees are – or rather the honey they produce is – big business in the valley, with lots of hives wherever you look. The track still needed care as we headed down and past Lake Mangawhio and onto gravel on Lakes Road, where, at a convenient gate the lead vehicle stopped and our convoy regrouped, ensuring that the tail-enders were not still on the track.

When we got going again it was on a road section, gravel, then tarseal but quickly back to gravel at the end of Ridge Road. Once through a gate, however it was back into 4WD as we headed along a ridge past another high point with views towards the sea and Wainui Beach.

As we skirted the head waters of a creek before commencing the long downhill section into the creek below, from a considerable distance and height the steel farm bridge in the valley below could be seen. 

Not long later and we were crossing it and out onto the flat paddock alongside the Waitotara River. The track up the true right which we travelled along had been recently machined and with the combination of the rain the night before made for some interesting and technical driving to keep control without sliding in the real slippery places. 

It was slow going with the odd vehicle needing a bit of help at times. About halfway through we all stopped and regrouped again. Not long after that though we heard a few brief reports of a slippery downhill and a Land Cruiser in trouble. It was not until sometime later, however, as I travelled down the slope in question the damage to the pine was very visible to the eye, and even with the wheel tracks of 60 plus vehicles in front the slope was still slippery.

The Homestead

That was the last of the really challenging track, however, as we headed across another grass river and up past the Homestead (which, by the way, was accessed by walking across a suspension bridge over the river where you would park your vehicle, this being far quicker than the long drive up the valley and back again).

For us it was then a drive along the farm access road for some distance before the road bridge came into view, then back onto tarseal for the trip back to camp, arriving just after 6.30pm; almost time for dinner!

In talking with people before and during dinner and seeing the Cruiser in question I understand two or three other trucks touched the pine in question on the way down the hill.

For those who had booked dinner it was served at Ngamatapouri Hall along with some live entertainment courtesy covers band, 3 Screws Loose. Midway through the night, Phil again called all to order for thank you speeches to the Ngamatapouri community which had supplied its support, especially the landowners for allowing access, as well as to the many and varied supplier, along with raffle prizes, which were also drawn.

The major prize of a set of tyres, went to a young driver from Auckland on his first Safari, a great effort.

Sunday no go

The distance from the hall to the camp was such that I remember the music playing in the back ground as I drifted off to sleep, only to awaken in the early hours of Sunday to rain falling on the tent roof again.

It was still a reasonably early rising, to low cloud cover, and a group of three trucks headed out early to recce the tracks while the rest of us enjoyed breakfast and coffee. The appointed time for briefing was 10.00am but just prior to that it started raining lightly again and with the recce group not back yet Phil made the call and advised that due to the weather conditions and in the interests of safety, that was it. 

Phil and his team were thanked for their efforts as the last of the sausages headed to the BBQ for morning tea (and more coffee) while the campsite commenced packing. Not long after the announcement the recce crew came back and confirmed the call.

Saturday’s run was great and everyone got to see some new country, along with what a small amount of rain can do to it in this neck of the woods.

To Phil and his crew, a vote of thanks for putting it all together, to the Ngamatapouri community and landowners, thanks again and to all that supported the event be it sponsors or attendees, Canteen is one hell of an organisation to support.

While the Irish Leprechaun never did get to see the rainbow this weekend, there was a pot of gold for Canteen.Look forward to being part of it all again next year.