GREAT FOOD, GREAT VENUE, GREAT HOSTS SOUTH ISLAND HIGH COUNTRY GRAND SLAM TOUR TICKS ALL THE BOXES
And so it began, High County Journey’s main man and tour leader John Mulholland in his Toyota Prado leading seven assorted 4x4s, including a Mercedes-Benz, VW Amarok, Nissan Navara, Toyota Fortuner, two Toyota Hiluxes (one a Cross Country Rental) and our Mazda BT-50, out of Blenheim early one February morning.
John took a couple of passengers in his truck (you don’t have to bring your own) which made up a touring party of 18 people (eight ladies and 10 blokes).
The South Island High Country Grand Slam is one of John’s premier multi-day tag-along 4x4 tours, a seven-day/eight-night largely off-road Odyssey which starts in Blenheim at the top of the South Island and finishes at Cardrona in the heart of Central Otago.
FIRST UP, BEST DRESSED!
Day 1 took us out through Taylors Pass to the Awatere Valley and up to Camden Station for morning tea. We then travelled further up the valley to Upcot Station where John led us up the farm track to the top of the range behind the station for 360 degree views over the rugged terrain of the station.
Safety was paramount here – each truck had to be fitted with a spark
