Rotorua Lakes Safari 2002 - Anzac Weekend

Friday saw us off to an 8.16 am start with our team called "Doubtful". Quite apt as it turned out as we lost our four team-mates more or less immediately and  for the rest of the day  had to team up with the "Shadows".  The day was very wet and overcaste but we had a lot of fun in the muddy tracks. Day 1 saw us travel over three farms, through three forests and past several lakes.

Our first night was spent on the edge of Lake Rerewhakaaitu and we had a deluge of round 5 inches of rain.  Fortunately we were well equipped but some were not so fortunate - but I must say the 4WD'ers are a hardy bunch.  To the left you will see our rooftop tent set up for the night  with Ray preparing a snack.  A break on Day 2 saw us back with our "Doubtful" team-mates and enjoying forestry roads and tracks.

Here we have (L) Ray and Kim Dent (of Hamilton) surveying one mountain track that was a little worse for wear after the nights downpour and (R)  Ray driving off into a bush track- fortunately he did wait for me. Day 3 and the 153 vehicles, that hadn't given up in the atrocious weather, lined up in the misty morning to travel single file up more mountains and through more forests.  Over to the right we find Ray  re-inflating the tyres for the journey home.  Hard to believe we were in the "shiney" category - the Nissan was not only muddy but badly scratched but we had a ball meeting great people and in total encompassed nine lakes, five forests and a dozen farms.