It was a chance meeting with local contractor and farmer Kevin Archer that saw Ngaroma confirmed as the venue for this year’s Te Awamutu Rotary 4WD Safari.

The base was at the Ngaroma Hall, the former school which had a good camping field and in which locals would provide the meals.

Leaving the hall it was a 400 metre drive before we were through the first gate and onto the first farm. Soon we were on a nice bush track that led in to one of Kevin Archer’s properties and climbed up a steep track to the top where we regrouped.

The farm tracks were signposted from the old milling and logging days with names such as Mill Lane and Ridge Road. There was also a relic of the old logging and land clearing days in the form of what was left of a traction engine.

The afternoon had the safari crossing several farm properties with high vantage points for viewing and at one point there was a clear view of Waipapa on the Waikato River.

By the time we finished the day we had done almost a 360 degree off-road loop and came back out 300 metres from the hall.

Sunday was yet more properties with a couple of interesting bits thrown in.

David Samuel who heads the Safari for the Te Awamutu Rotary puts a lot of work into the preparations and even arranges for a video crew on motorbikes to film and record the safari and every participant receives a complimentary copy of the video in due course.

The organisers thank the sponsors and supporters of the 2015 Safari; The Honda Shop, Te Awamutu; Wilksbrooke Motors; 4WD Fibreglass and NZ4WD magazine.
 
To read the full story in the August 2015 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale July 20) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.