Date: 27/09/2008
Trip Leader: Andrew (Sav) Satherley

Trip Report: Richard Exton

It was a damp cold day when we all met at Maruia Hall, five 4WDs from Nelson and eight serious 4WDs from Blenheim.

Following a quick brief we were on our way heading back toward Nelson for a few 100 mtrs, turning right onto private land.

Working our way through rutted bush tracks which on one occasion found myself bellied wishing I had 33" tyres! Bugger. Continued winding our way through the native bush in and out of creeks.

Stopping for lunch we were taken for a short walk through a man-made tunnel.

After lunch the grade stepped up but there was a choice of taking the rough bush track or safe creek option. Stopping on the odd occasion to watch the serious 4WDs tackle serious holes which usually resulted in a lot of revving, roaring and the tow rope coming out!

The rain was setting in as we arrived at the hut so it was a quick set up of the tents then perching ourselves on the hut veranda with a few beers while watching some keen 4WDers head up this clearing attempting more challenging holes, eventually all making it back.

Tea was cooked, drinks were drunk, and stories got told getting taller by the moment! A very cold night by all who slept in tents, waking to a heavy frost, snow on the mountains and a clear day.

After breakfast and packing up we all headed out straight down the creek, which was the quick way out. Four 4WDs headed home and the rest of us gathered for briefing on the day’s trip which was along the back of two local farms. Making our way up and down hills through narrow bush tracks with great views at times, we stopped at a steep hill climb where most of the group had a go; only one 4WD got up, V8 Jeep, well done, Sav. Some of the others came close to getting up.

We stopped at a camp site back in the manuka for lunch which was very pleasant. After lunch it was back onto the bush tracks up and down steep hills and more great views. Come three o’clock we left the rest of the group attempting a swampy area where most were getting stuck. We headed back to Nelson.

We really enjoyed the weekend. Thanks Andrew and all involved.

The only thing I can say that the Terrano scored highly in is fuel consumption of only ¾ of a tank for the whole weekend.

Trip Report: ‘Squeak’

"Dredgeville"

Wow! - this is cool! I get to do a trip report all on my own (‘cause my Mum told me I had to..) - although it is a bit hard to type on the computer with only cloth paws!...

I got to go four wheel driving in my favourite Jeep AND camping but it was a bit cold on Saturday night with the frost and snow on the hills in the morning! At least they let me sleep under the covers in the bed!!

On Sunday morning we all took off after packing up our very stiff and frozen tents, out down the river to the main road and across to North Bank Maruia road and on to Mike Dredge’s neighbouring farm. After trekking across his property we came onto Dredgeville and proceded up through a variety of wet, greasy tracks and through the back areas of manuka and stunning bush – boy oh boy! enough wood there to keep a small puppy dog like me warm in front of many fires over many winters!

Just before lunch we stopped up on a high terrace that looks down over the valley and saw where the new Log Cabin house of Mike and Sandie’s is going to be sitting very soon. Fantastic view from there! A few of the Marlborough boys saw the nice cleared hill face down the front of the "section" that had been cleared of manuka recently and decided to go down and have a go getting up again..easier said than done, eh chaps?? sooo..there was a lot of revving and grinding to try a get up with no luck and a bit of towing ensued, one after another till just about everyone had done their thing...then Mike Dredge looked across to Sav and said "you’ll give it a go wont ya Sav?"... well it would be pretty rude not to!..so off he went with me to navigate (of course) – with some smart alec saying that with all the load of camping gear on board it would be better to reverse up the hill – so he did! almost made it to the top (got as far as the others frontways!!) - so then down he went and up he went – straight over the top!

Only in a Jeep!

After that we went down to the "camp" for some tucker and then off to do some more really good tracks for a couple more hours before heading for home.

I had a great time and didn’t get lost (what would they do without me to navigate?). Thanks to Mike Dredge for letting us play on his farm again (and if he asks – I’m not really a big dangerous dog – just a little cute puppy!...)

Have fun out there!

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