Levuka 4WD Park

22nd - 23rd January

Participants: Too many to recall

Not sure where to start really. Mel, Declan and I met up with some fellow travellers at the Yamanto McDonalds on the Friday night to leave at 5pm but actually left at 6pm. After a top up at the servo we headed over for some tea, while waiting for the others to arrive. Not sure if it was an omen or not, but with the black and green clouds waiting for us to the south, it looked like being a wet weekend. The storm hit while still having something to eat, so had a mad dash back to the cars after Joe and Carmel arrived, and we were all set to hit the road.

Must have been crazy but the storm passed us over and we hit blue sky again before we got to the border. Once we were though Woodenbong we were nearly there. We all stopped at the house to check in and sign our lives away and pay for the weekend. Quite reasonable compared to other 4wd parks. I had to give Kelby a few map reading lessons before we found the campsite to set up camp, only to find that others had arrived earlier that day/week. Took a while to setup camp with the tent but with the help of some others with the tarp it wasn’t long before we could sit down with a relaxing drink.

Morning arrived too soon as it usually does and Declan had us up early to explore the camp. After breakfast was over, Jeff Crane and Jim Williams set off to explore, thinking this would be a quick little trip. I joined them with a few others, 8 cars in total if my memory is any good. We found some mud on the tracks and wasn’t long before the first recovery for the weekend was needed. Strike me down if it wasn’t a Landcruiser in need of a tow and I just happened to be in the right place with the Patrol to pull Barry back on to the track away from the big tree. It took a while for all of us to safely negotiate the tree and all bunch up again before heading up Bull Ant Hill for some grade 5 terrain. No more recoveries but some tricky gullies to traverse. Back out again and we headed off in search of some more fun. We found some more climbs and valleys to play in and after a while a few of the convoy headed back to camp to see if Ian had turned up yet. Still wanting more, a few of us followed Jeff for a bit further. We soon found a couple of mud holes to play in. The first was dry with no water but still damp underneath and the second was full with water. The oldies went round the holes but Lee Harris and I decided to give them a go. I hit the first one only to find out that I was still in 2WD and couldn’t get out. I put it in 4WD and after a few back and forths emerged out the other side. I looked at the second one and decided that I wouldn’t give it a go as I didn’t have a snorkel and it looked deep! Lee did the first hole in style with no trouble and decided the second was worth a go. Bet he wish he didn’t now! After hitting it and stopping dead in the middle, his car sputtered for a while then died. So once again it was up to the mighty Patrol to rescue another stuck Landcruiser. Without his motor running, Lee’s car was a dead weight but the Patrol got him out after a few tries. After assessing the damage Lee got his car going again and off we went for the long way round trip back to camp. Tracy was very pleased that she had stayed back at camp for the morning, Vanessa was wishing that she had stayed at camp too. I just got an ear full from Melissa for leaving her with the dishes while I went to have fun without her.

After lunch Kelby Williams led a little group off for a drive with the others following Ian later. I followed Kelby with Steve Sims and Lee Harris. It was lucky I let the Toyotas go first as after the three of them had gone through a few creek crossings they were getting very slippery, needing Nissan power to get through them. One in particular was only attempted by Steve, Lee and I with Kelby finding another way around. The sign at the start saying “4wd Club Members Only!” must have put him off. It was quite tricky and slippery after the other 2 cars went through but with a bit less air in the tyres the Patrol came through and we were off again. The other group at this time was stuck at another creek and then they founds some more mud holes to play in which must have been good as Ian had to rescue everyone out of them! We followed Kelby back to the test track and after playing with the logs Vanessa managed to puncture the back tyre on the Prado so we headed back to camp for happy hour.

Everyone seemed to enjoy happy hour, a slow start but soon the cry went up “get over here!........And bring food!!!!” Even the property owner joined us for a few yarns. After tea we all congregated around a few camp fires to relax. Until the heavens opened up with a few spots, while not heavy, were enough to kill the atmosphere around the fires so most went to bed with only the hardcore campfire enthusiasts keeping them going.

Next morning after breakfast, Ian led another trip out with about 13 cars to do some more mud play. After doing the test track we went through a little creek crossing. Now I know Steve’s Cruiser got a work out having to pull most of the convoy through, I believe no Patrols needed his help, only the others. Sorry Steve maybe next time! Up the hill and down the other side and through yet more mud holes but out ok with no more recoveries. We then went on to the Playground. A few of us held up things for a while playing on the jump ups there. After giving most a go I was ready to move on till Steve did one that I hadn’t. I couldn’t let it be said that a Toyota went somewhere a Nissan didn’t so I went round again for a try myself. Only I am not sure what I was trying to prove but for some reason I tried to climb it in high range. So after stalling it at the top and realising, I put it in low range and climbed out. We then moved on and found the mud holes that Lee and I had played in the morning before. Ian looked at Lee’s puddle and had a go himself, only to get stuck and need to be pulled out. No one else attempted the puddle so it remains unconquered. We then headed back to Bull Ant Hill and did the track backwards. After a few mix ups with some other drivers at the park, we all found our way back to camp.

We had a quick lunch then and most of us packed up and headed for home. The camp slowly getting smaller till only the retirees were left to enjoy the peace and quiet. We were last of the group that was leaving on the Sunday to finally get packed up and head home. Our trip ended up being quite a slow one with a top speed of 60km/h. With all the extra mud on my tyres and rims, my wheel balance was way out and if I went any faster the whole car shook. It took me 2 hours with the hose to finally get all the mud off them after I got home. I then found out after a few phones calls the next few days that I was not alone in this experience. Lee even had a few overheating problems with the cruiser. The stick through his front grill in the mud puddle he played in must have done more than we thought.

Even with all that it was a fantastic weekend. Thanks to Ian for organising a successful camp. I am sure that he has quite a few fines to dish out at the next meeting.

Brett Lynch.