MAPIU SCHOOL FAMILY FUN SAFARI – 19/20TH JANUARY, 2013

Hosted by King Country 4WD Club for a fundraiser for Mapiu School Kids Trip to Opotiki.

 

 

Situated on S.H.4 between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui you could be forgiven if you missed it!  Today all that remains of this former milling and farming town is a hall, and the 6 pupil school, the hub of this farming community.

 

Charlie and I left Pukekohe at 5.30 AM Saturday morning for the 3 hour drive to Mapiu.   Start time was set for 9.00AM.   Upon arrival we were met by the King Country guys, who Safety scrutineered our vehicle.  About half a dozen tents were up.   When the trucks pulled out of the school grounds at about 9.00 ish, I guess there were about 20 and that included the KC4WD boys.  Rain, hail, or shine, the KC4WD boys were out for a great weekend of 4x4ing, and socialising – this was their inaugural Safari, and they were determined to get it right.  And I can say those guys delivered an awesome Safari. We were given a map with a highlighted area of the route for each day.

 

A few ks down the Ramaroa Road to the Mokauiti Valley, the convoy pulled into a farmer’s paddock.  Here a couple of the club guys took their bush trucks off their trailers. When these guys were sorted, Steve Kernot, the Trip Organiser, called the group together for a short but to the point briefing and introduced Brett Walker, (BJ) our “tour guide”.  Brett is a direct descendant of an early pioneering family who broke in the land (from 1914) that he and his wife now farm.

 

From Brett’s farm the Safari went onto farm roads/ tracks.  It was a station to station or farm to farm Safari, with very little road work.   Brett on a Can-am 4x4 led the way.  The convoy stopped frequently. Brett is a “book of knowledge” on the history of this area, that being the Mokauiti/ Mapiu/ Tapuiwahine Valleys on which this weekend was pretty much centred. The King Country terrain is fertile valleys, with native bush/ pine covered hills, many of the valleys have been planted in English trees, a legacy of the early settlers from England.  Much of the day was climbing up to look out points wherein Brett stopped the convoy to impart his vast knowledge of the history, land owners, some of whom like himself were direct descendants, farming techniques and anything else he though note worthy.  He had his notes ready – but not his glasses!   Saturday was a brilliant fine day and as such afforded some awesome views of Mt. Ruapheu, Ngaruahoe, and Tongariro.  Mt. Egmont’s shape was visible.  Much of the travel was along the ridge tops which meant fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

 

Steve K produced morning tea at about 11.30ish.  More awesome travel along the ridge tops and down to the valleys and the convoy arrived at a Station Shearing Shed for lunch at 1.00pm ish.   During the lunch hour or so, the KC4WD guys had set up a mud hole for those interested, and there were a few.

 

The afternoon was spent going through native bush, along the tops, through valleys to arrive back at camp at 6.00pm.   The school had its swimming pool open for those brave enough, as the wind was chilly.

 

Dinner at 7.00pm was a feast.  Lamb on the spit, an assortment of salads and vegetables, it was heartland farming tucker at its best.   Being small in numbers the social time before and after dinner was just like a family gathering under the marquee.  After dessert a DVD was shown on the day’s activities along with some pictures on the big screen of BJ’s farm in the early days.  Some of the land owners joined us for dinner and a chat.

 

SUNDAY 20TH JANUARY

Sunday dawned drizzly.   We left camp at 9.00am.  A few more have joined the group including Steve Whitton who is a member of the Waikato and King Country 4WD Clubs.  Today he is helping out guys as an official.   Steve was out doing a recce for Pirongia Safari on Saturday.   The convoy had a stop on the tops overlooking Mokauiti Valley with Aria Valley in the background.  BJ reckoned the low cloud or fog cover would burn off within half an hour.  The Safari was due to finish at 1.00pm but no grizzles were forth coming when told it would more likely be about 3 ish.  Another KC4WD helper an “old timer” Dave Mills was another book of knowledge on the area.   Ross Sisley from Pirongia was another as he grew up in Aria (the next town and valley to the west).  Whilst waiting for the fog to clear these 3 knowledgeable blokes spoke on the early days in the King Country.  I personally could have listened to them all day. 

 

Yep, the mist or fog cover cleared to become a hot, fine summers day.  So once again, we had some awesome views of the mountains, Pirongia and everything else in between.   Morning tea was taken on the tops.  We carried on over much the same terrain until Steve K produced lunch from the back of his Safari.   Country styled filled rolls, fruit and cake, overlooking the Rangitoto Range.  Out to the left, Pomerangi Range.  After lunch it was downhill heading towards the main road, a stop at Omaru Falls, and then the group stopped to inspect an old traction engine, left to die there since 1936 when it was last used in this district.   This farmer won’t let anyone buy it to restore because of sentimental reasons.  Very sad.  Back onto the main road to the school.   It was 3.15.   Pack up time.

 

After pack up it was time for a beer with the KC4WD boys.   A bit of a debrief took place.  The general consensus was that there could have been more play areas, and challenging tracks.  That said, these guys have the access to the heavy machinery necessary to create these courses.  They were really pleased how the weekend panned out, and rightly so, as it was an awesome weekend, plenty of food, great tracks and country and at $200.00 per vehicle the cost was very reasonable.  Most important, the land owners are happy, and as the KC4WD Club wish to make this an annual weekend event that is a major.

 

A VERY BIG THANKS to BJ and all the KC4WD CLUB GUYS – you worked hard to make it a success, and from all accounts it was a very successful weekend.  We look forward to joining you guys again for next years Mapiu Safari.

 

Joy Browne

MANUKAU 4WD CLUB