Handy hints

Find old copies of the following as many of these tracks are still available: • 4WD South. By Mark Wilson. 115 Off Road

Adventures ( This is available new) • Spot X – Off-Roading. 150 Tracks • 4WD South Island. By Ken Sibly and Mark

Wilson. Two publications available.

Maps

New Zealand TOPO Maps. It is extremely handy to download NZ Topo50 maps onto a GPS-capable device so you can access your desired maps off line i.e. preload them onto an ipad or tablet so you can see all the tracks you are planning on driving and your progress in real time. This should make it very hard to get lost as quite often tracks have multiple options or paths and identifying the correct one can be difficult. The Topo50 map series (1: 50,000 scale) provides the most current Topo50 map information released by LINZ ( Land Information New Zealand). This enabled us to identify different route options on the fly rather than relying on lots of paper based maps. We could simply see a track, gain permission to drive it if required and make a detour enroute to our destination. You can also download these maps onto your smart phone but I personally find phone screens too small to be helpful especially whilst driving. I have a tablet holder that I attach to the windscreen, so I can have the tablet sitting on the dash where it doesn’t restrict my vision ( by resting on the dash it also can’t fall off when 4WDing). I use the following app on my Samsung tablet but many different options are available.

Online

Lots of information is available if you spend a few hours online, here are some starting points.

www.doc.govt.nz

The Department of Conservation has a guide to Off Road Driving in the South and North Island including 44 tracks that are accessible. This site is also good for knowing where all the DOC campsites are on the route.

www.nzfwda.org.nz

For a list of local clubs that belong to New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association, I reached out to a few clubs in local areas and they were all very helpful with local information and contact details.

www.4wd.org.nz

Some South Island clubs have formed an association, this site has their contact details.

www.offroadexpress.co.nz

Is a NZ 4WD Forum, which might have useful information.

www.adventureriding.co.nz

This is based around dirt bike riding but has a lot of information that is relevant and helpful.

www.wikiloc.com/trails/ offroading/new-zealand

Facebook. Try “NZ Off Roader” or “NZ4Wheeling” Once you know the names of the tracks in the various areas you are heading search for them specifically as many 4WD clubs and private people publish reports or newsletters and these are often available online. Be aware that roads/ tracks can have a couple of different names so it’s a good idea to know these when talking to locals for more information.