TAPUHI HIGH COUNTRY SAFARI
With some stunning farm and bush land available a 4x4 Safari proved the perfect way for Northland’s Hukerenui School to raise funds.
With some stunning farm and bush land available a 4x4 Safari proved the perfect way for Northland’s Hukerenui School to raise funds.
The Tapuhi High- Country 4x4 Safari was a big success. We had 62 trucks enter plus the vehicles belonging to the members of the Whangarei Four Wheel Drive Club who ran the day. About 70 trucks in total and approximately 170 people. A lot from out of town, in particular from Auckland and as far south as Tauranga.
We raised $ 3,500 The day started off well with a steady arrival of vehicles from 07: 45. The rain had cleared from the night before and would prove to provide perfect conditions for the day ahead. We kicked the day off at 09: 00. I welcomed everyone and talked about the Hukerenui School problem-solving team raising funds so they could travel to America in June this year to compete against other schools from around the world and represent New Zealand.
Safety first
We were then given a safety briefing by members of the Whangarei 4WD Club. The safari travelled over six farms bordering one another and spread from Tapuhi Valley right up and over Puhipuhi Mountain. The farms consisted of dairy farm land, mature forestry, mature native forests, beef land and a deer fenced property. There was a main backbone track but loads of tracks or loops off that. So the options were huge. Vehicles were graded in to groups of driver ability, shiny or tough. We had gullies and valleys, ridges and mountains with agricultural land ranging from flat ( catering for the Land Rovers!) to rolling and steep. There were also fields of volcanic rock as well as some bogs and swamps which brought out the mud magnets among the 70-odd trucks.
Giant Kauri
Safari-goers were taken past two bush cabins and had the opportunity to see and walk inside a giant Kauri tree because of its hollow centre. There were some great views taken in of the Russell State Forest to the north and the Bay of Islands beyond and also in other directions were views of the district and south towards Whangarei. Trucks started rolling back in at end of day from about 15: 00. There were no incidents other than a truck rolling t wo t yres off its rims. The day ended with a sausage sizzle available and spot prize draw with prizes provided by the following generous companies: • Stirling Sports Whangarei and Kerikeri. • Mark Cromie Holden. • Northland Toyota. • ANZ. • FMG Insurance Whangarei. On behalf of the Hukerenui School Problem Solvers team I would like to thank all our sponsors and also the land owners who joined me in providing access; Bruce Henty, Mike Powell, Kesson Torkington, Andrew Whitehead, Laural Boaz. I’d also like to extend a BIG, BIG thank you to the Whangarei 4WD Club who conducted a very safe and organised fun day out for all.