To get an invitation to enter the training grounds for four wheeling is very special and involves lots of paperwork and time from army personnel who also have to give up their time to guide you. For this Labour weekend trip it was the Waiouru Rod and Gun Club Inc which sponsored the trip as a fund raiser for the club. Members of the Wellington Jeep Club and the Land Rovers Owners’ Club Auckland combined to take advantage of this opportunity, and NZ4WD was invited along as well. Saturday was an early start as there is a lot of paperwork and safety procedures to go through before we could actually head out of camp. These included details of unexploded munitions or “blinds” in military speak. Travelling in convoy, complete with an army Pinzgauer driven by Cpl George Alexander, we were led out by Captain John Lawrey in his own 200 tdi powered Range Rover. The route, planned with typical army precision, was designed to be scenic as well as challenging for those suitably proficient with appropriately set-up vehicles. It would take us east and then north east of the camp deep into the training grounds. The army is constantly working and we had managed to see military vehicles and personnel fully set up on training exercises. Not quite like crossing a foreign border patrol, but soldiers were there with their weapons as we passed through their check point. We ventured off on to tracks through the tussock country and travelled along in a easterly direction eventually coming to the Kaimaikuku Stream which had to be crossed. No problems here other than a broken axle UJ on one of the jeeps when he played on a steep uphill section. However since he has a front locker the offending half-shaft could be removed and he continued in three-wheel-drive. We skirted around the edges of Lake Moawhango before heading northwards once again. At times the tracks were challenging and alternative ways were found to bypass problem areas. After a late lunch between rain showers it was onto yet another track to a play area, although the track was severely rutted and required a lot of digging. Everyone pitched in and we managed to get a few vehicles up but Neil Abbott’s V8-powered forward control Land Rover needed a tow. Don Morgan managed to do this in his 1942 Willys Jeep complete with original side valve engine. It really was a David and Goliath effort. It got late in the day so a decision was made to turn back for base before dark. We think the army guys got us in there just to rebuild the road for them so it would be easier for them next time! Sunday weather was equally as miserable with very low cloud and a bitter wind. This time we were heading for Red Hut in the north eastern corner of the training grounds. On the way we travelled up to 1,350 metres and into a light snow storm and poor visibility. There was one big hill that we all had to get up as there was no alternative route. Glen in his home-built Jeep managed to get up driving carefully through the tussock, while the three-wheel-drive Wrangler managed to use horsepower and drove straight up the steep track. Don Morgan’s little MB was also coaxed up through the tussock. The NZ4WD Range Rover successfully drove up the track and was used to tow all the others up with the assistance of Darrell Couchman in his Toyota Land Cruiser. The Army Pinzgauer was also towed up on the long rope and it was good to see the teamwork that went into getting the ropes up and down the hill for each pull. Once up we pushed on through rutted and difficult terrain and Neil Abbott’s forward control had to have a lie down on the way. About half way there was a makeshift bridge the army engineers put into place many years ago. The bogs that the bridge traverses may not look much but several vehicles got stuck attempting to cross them. The Pinzgauer was one of a few to successful drive across. Just before reaching the Red Hut another Land Rover had a little mishap when it nosed into a large washout unseen as it crested a bank. Glen’s Jeep was having cooling issues when its fan broke, so Glen just drove it faster to get more air through the radiator. The weather had cleared slightly in places but upon reaching the big hill again it suddenly closed in making visibility difficult. It was even snowing briefly again when we got back to the big hill. The Pinzgauer headed downhill first, only to end up going on a toboggan ride to the bottom, bouncing across the ruts and de-beading a front tyre in the process. Alternatives were found through the tussock and while some had an interesting ride none could match that of the Pinzgauer. Special thanks must go to the army personnel who gave up their long weekend to allow a group of four wheel drivers into the ATG. Without them and the background organisation and planning by Major Chas Charlton we wouldn’t have had the opportunity or the experience. For everyone there it was a unique and memorable trip with good company which is not likely to be repeated in near future.