Thread: 2011-2014 FJ Cruiser.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Nice. Where did you go? We are always looking for new places to explore.

We did the Leatham Valley, down over to the Waiau river valley via St James cons park, up the Avoca, over to the Hopkins, over to the Hawkdon range, up and over the old man range. The three primo campsites would have been on the banks of the Waiau, up the Hopkins by Red hut and down by a stream between the Old Man and Old Woman ranges. The Old man range needs pristine weather for best effect

Given the history of this place, with so many miners losing their lives in blizzards it was a treat for the stream to be warm enough to swim in for half an hour.

Originally Posted by XR500

We did the Leatham Valley, down over to the Waiau river valley via St James cons park, up the Avoca, over to the Hopkins, over to the Hawkdon range, up and over the old man range. The three primo campsites would have been on the banks of the Waiau, up the Hopkins by Red hut and down by a stream between the Old Man and Old Woman ranges. The Old man range needs pristine weather for best effect

Did you go down the Rainbow? You should have stopped in for a cuppa.

Will remember the offer for next time thanks

No, in via the Awatere valley, overnighted at the Cobb cottage, then in through the Severn valley, back around to the St James, down to the Waiau for the night. Then back out via Hanmer and down country to the Avoca via Lake Coleridge.

Heading back with the inflatable jet boat in 6 weeks time, heading for the bottom half of the West Coast

Great vehicles these, I had one when I worked in Colorado on a contract for Newmont. Went all sorts of places in it and really missed it went back home in Oz, even though it had the exact same engine as my work Prado.

12L/100km is very good for one of these even for open road, a lot of guys don’t manage that. Don’t forget that you won’t see that kind of consumption on the trail or if you’re working the V6 harder than usual. Or on the highway with all the fruit on the roof. On the longer trails I did in the US, the consumption was more like 20/100km and you need to factor this into fuel planning.

Like the interior fit out! You’ll have lots of fun in this vehicle in the south island and I would love to see more pics from your travels.