NZFWDA Day 5 Basin Hut Avoca River

Friday is day five of the New Zealand Four Wheel Drive association safaris in the centre of the south Island - based around Methven.
Through the week the organizers ran two trips each day - covering the same routes on alternate days. For our last day - we had the choice to continue on from where our group turned around yesterday on the Wilberforce river - and travel to Urquhart’s Hut - which was reputably quite a challenging run, or we could do an easy drive - back up the Harper River and then turn north-west - up the Avoca River as far as Basins Hut.
Due the deteriorating weather, it was suggested that the Wilberforce would be too high - due to the heavy rainfall in the mountains - raising the river to a dangerous speed and depth.
So the decision was made to combine the two convoys into one - and travel up the Avoca to Basins Hut for lunch.

[@lyndonkapoor8823]

Much happier at 14:30 mins in, to see LR's in your camera 😅 Great to see a D4 on this run 👍 I wonder what size tyres the D4 was running, to cope with all of the boulders?
Another great vid thanks Kev. Your poor Disco! Good repairs and improvements to safegaurd the rear dif 👌

[@hamishharris1241]

Do you have to pay or ring the station owner to get onto river?

[@mrpopaskidd]

@@hamishharris1241bump

[@Kevz110]

Hi - thanks for the comment. I will find out the tyre size and report back

[@Kevz110]

@@hamishharris1241 No, to the best of my knowledge, provided you stick to the river you are in a public access area. There are alternative tracks that gains access directly to the Avoca, but that is on Glenthorne Station. www.glenthorne.co.nz/public-access-to-glenthorne-station . There is a cut-off comment that I captured where someone said about being a nice place to stay for a few days and he was talking about 'The Retreat' on Lillian Creek - which you can find on the above link to Glenthorne Station. Thanks for the comment.

[@kiwibrett]

Hi Lyndon, my D4 is running General Grabber X3 MTs 265 75 18 or 32.6" x 10.5" x 18". That can be achieved by reprogramming the suspension computer to 75mm [3"] higher and resetting alignments. Perhaps easier done using adaptable lift rods. I find the extra air in the towers gives better road handling through twisty corners, but with more "road feel." Total lift is 5" + 2" if I choose 'off road height' - but that's best reserved for clearing a particular obstacle. The X3's were chosen for their relative quietness [I'm barely aware of the noise with windows up] and superior wet tarmac handling. The TDV6 D4 is my daily driver, but always ready to play. It runs Rock Sliders & 7 bash plates from APT Australia, one saved the transfer box from being shattered on this trip.