2pintsplease
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Kiaora Landy lovers! I asked for some pre-purchase advise before picking up my first Series 1, and had several requests for a photo blog of my adventures bringing her home from Christchurch. Better late than never, here it is!
Meet Lucille (this photo taken at Hanmer Springs). She is a 1954 Series 1 107", the 168th 107 ever produced, to be precise. Me and my best mate have a tradition of naming our Series Landys after Star Wars characters, so far being 'Daft' Vader and Princess Leia. I had Luke Skywalker in mind for this one, but as we drove out from Christchurch we realised that she is most definitely a female Land Rover. Then Kenny Rogers came on the stereo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SDVkdcO8ts
And the rest is history.
Lake Tennyson, North Canterbury
My better half, glamorous assistant, and co-pilot for the journey, Bea. In the background you can see my mate Jeff's Subaru - he was on holiday and had nothing planned so he kindly shadowed us for the first day to make sure we weren't going to have calamitous breakdowns every five k's.
The start of the Wairau-Hanmer Springs Hydro Road
We chose this road because we didn't fancy holding up thousands of cars on State Highway One, where we would be certain to meet our maker, either by perilous overtaking or bludgeoning by enraged truck drivers.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd....4_10153238778219311_1762107984644501001_o.jpg
Further on up the Wairau Valley
The original wellside and roof were included, so we hauled these all the way home with vague intentions of getting around to fitting them some day - I quite like the flat deck though. The home made tin roof was fitted by a previous owner - allegedly to make Lucille fit in his garage! That's what we call Kiwi ingenuity!
Hell's Gate
Yes that's really what it's called. I do wonder if Tolkien was inspiration for the name - chances are explorers penned it a few decades before Lord Of The Rings was released. We had to turn around at this point as the road is locked 10 months of the year...and it's not one of those gates that you can easily evade by fording the stream!
Island Gully Hut
This was our nap spot for the first night, a tiny four bunk hut near the turnoff to cross to Molesworth Station. We hadn't counted on this little man and his dad staying though, so it was a real squeeze for the three of us! But the fire was roaring and there weren't too many mozzies, and we had a whole rolled leg of lamb for dinner - about half a kilo each with leftovers for sandwiches the next day!
Wairau Valley, Island Gully Hut in the lower foreground
Me and Jeff went for a scramble up this hill in the morning (in England it would be called a mountain), which reminded me of how unfit I had become since busting my knee skiing in August. Bea, meanwhile, scaled the much higher and steeper slope on the other side of the photograph, returning with tales of amazing views of the snow-capped Southern Alps.
Sedgemere-Severn Road
Day two and we were into Marlborough, finally on a proper 4WD only road. Lucille's narrow track came in handy accessing this road as we encountered yet another locked gate, but made use of a nearby horse access. This also saved Jeff's Subaru the indignity of having to admit defeat when we reached the first of several waist-deep fords. So we said our goodbyes and tootled on our way.
Isolated Saddle, Molesworth Station
We made it to the "main" Molesworth-Awatere Valley road by lunchtime, and stopped here to enjoy the view after wheezing up a neverending hill at 15mph.
Looking back to where we'd been from Isolated Saddle
The temperature was up from around 16 degrees on Day 1 to mid the mid 20s, with a gusty Nor-Wester breeze telling us on no uncertain terms that we better start preparing for rain - lots of it!
Awatere Valley
We cruised along at 40 miles an hour all afternoon, enjoying views like this all the way.
Driver change pit-stop, Awatere Valley
Lucille did us proud. The inland high country was spectacular and a welcome change from the coastline we take for granted every day in New Zealand. If you find yourself in Canterbury in January-February when the Wairau and Molesworth 4WD roads are open, it is a must-do weekend trip. We recommend the Sedgemere Sleepout for real rustic accommodation along the way.
Interislander ferry, Marlborough Sounds
By 7pm on Day 2 the clouds were closing in, and we were happy to be headed for a hot shower and warm bed in Wellington.
Looking out to Kapiti Island, North of Wellington
Day 3 and the skies have not yet opened, as we roll the dice on the narrow strip of coastal two-lane that is State Highway One. Big Brother has joined us too, an unwelcome reminder that we are back in the North Island.
The Fijian Resort Hotel
What do you do when you have a negative earth stereo to fit in a positive earth car? Well, put it in a pink pencil case, of course!
Outside of Feilding, Manawatu
The skies are darkening, but I am excited - we are about to pass another vehicle for the first time after being passed by countless others - a tractor!
Warm furry feet, somewhere near Hobbiton
This wee heater may not cut it in winter, but it was very much welcomed when it just took the edge off the chilly weather (contrary to popular belief, New Zealand isn't constantly basking under the sun in December, the month that Summer disowned).
As we approached the Rangitiki Gorge, the road got twisty
...which kept Bea happy wrestling the massive leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Rangitiki Gorge
A spectacular wooden bridge marked the transition from the Wairarapa to the Central Plateau
Rangitiki Gorge
There is a lovely little campsite on the river, if anybody happens to be passing by, it is a great spot not far from SH1 to spend the night.
Approaching Waiuru
How to get a Series 1 to 70mph? Crawl up a five mile long hill at 20, then cut the engine at the top, select neutral, and HOLD ON!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd....5_10153238773459311_8454465366990761256_o.jpg
Ohakune, Ruapehu
After a long day of driving, we felt lucky to have a ski bach to kick back with a hot bath.
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Bruce Road, Ruapehu
Day 4 dawns, and before pointing home to Auckland we chugged up the mountain to return my knee brace to the ski field, and check out the view.
Chateau Tongariro, Ruapehu
This is where the photos end, for the rest of our journey was relatively unremarkable blacktop on the long 500km slog to Auckland. We stopped off for a swim in the natural hot river known as Kerosene Creek near Rotorua. Despite wanting to stay there forever, we pushed on, arriving home at midnight!
Since then Lucille has been on more adventures, towing a boat and a ton of gear to our New Years camp near Russell, but right now she's sitting in the driveway waiting for some TLC, as I wait for my knee, which has finally been operated on, to get strong enough to operate her clutch!
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
Meet Lucille (this photo taken at Hanmer Springs). She is a 1954 Series 1 107", the 168th 107 ever produced, to be precise. Me and my best mate have a tradition of naming our Series Landys after Star Wars characters, so far being 'Daft' Vader and Princess Leia. I had Luke Skywalker in mind for this one, but as we drove out from Christchurch we realised that she is most definitely a female Land Rover. Then Kenny Rogers came on the stereo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SDVkdcO8ts
And the rest is history.
Lake Tennyson, North Canterbury
My better half, glamorous assistant, and co-pilot for the journey, Bea. In the background you can see my mate Jeff's Subaru - he was on holiday and had nothing planned so he kindly shadowed us for the first day to make sure we weren't going to have calamitous breakdowns every five k's.
The start of the Wairau-Hanmer Springs Hydro Road
We chose this road because we didn't fancy holding up thousands of cars on State Highway One, where we would be certain to meet our maker, either by perilous overtaking or bludgeoning by enraged truck drivers.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd....4_10153238778219311_1762107984644501001_o.jpg
Further on up the Wairau Valley
The original wellside and roof were included, so we hauled these all the way home with vague intentions of getting around to fitting them some day - I quite like the flat deck though. The home made tin roof was fitted by a previous owner - allegedly to make Lucille fit in his garage! That's what we call Kiwi ingenuity!
Hell's Gate
Yes that's really what it's called. I do wonder if Tolkien was inspiration for the name - chances are explorers penned it a few decades before Lord Of The Rings was released. We had to turn around at this point as the road is locked 10 months of the year...and it's not one of those gates that you can easily evade by fording the stream!
Island Gully Hut
This was our nap spot for the first night, a tiny four bunk hut near the turnoff to cross to Molesworth Station. We hadn't counted on this little man and his dad staying though, so it was a real squeeze for the three of us! But the fire was roaring and there weren't too many mozzies, and we had a whole rolled leg of lamb for dinner - about half a kilo each with leftovers for sandwiches the next day!
Wairau Valley, Island Gully Hut in the lower foreground
Me and Jeff went for a scramble up this hill in the morning (in England it would be called a mountain), which reminded me of how unfit I had become since busting my knee skiing in August. Bea, meanwhile, scaled the much higher and steeper slope on the other side of the photograph, returning with tales of amazing views of the snow-capped Southern Alps.
Sedgemere-Severn Road
Day two and we were into Marlborough, finally on a proper 4WD only road. Lucille's narrow track came in handy accessing this road as we encountered yet another locked gate, but made use of a nearby horse access. This also saved Jeff's Subaru the indignity of having to admit defeat when we reached the first of several waist-deep fords. So we said our goodbyes and tootled on our way.
Isolated Saddle, Molesworth Station
We made it to the "main" Molesworth-Awatere Valley road by lunchtime, and stopped here to enjoy the view after wheezing up a neverending hill at 15mph.
Looking back to where we'd been from Isolated Saddle
The temperature was up from around 16 degrees on Day 1 to mid the mid 20s, with a gusty Nor-Wester breeze telling us on no uncertain terms that we better start preparing for rain - lots of it!
Awatere Valley
We cruised along at 40 miles an hour all afternoon, enjoying views like this all the way.
Driver change pit-stop, Awatere Valley
Lucille did us proud. The inland high country was spectacular and a welcome change from the coastline we take for granted every day in New Zealand. If you find yourself in Canterbury in January-February when the Wairau and Molesworth 4WD roads are open, it is a must-do weekend trip. We recommend the Sedgemere Sleepout for real rustic accommodation along the way.
Interislander ferry, Marlborough Sounds
By 7pm on Day 2 the clouds were closing in, and we were happy to be headed for a hot shower and warm bed in Wellington.
Looking out to Kapiti Island, North of Wellington
Day 3 and the skies have not yet opened, as we roll the dice on the narrow strip of coastal two-lane that is State Highway One. Big Brother has joined us too, an unwelcome reminder that we are back in the North Island.
The Fijian Resort Hotel
What do you do when you have a negative earth stereo to fit in a positive earth car? Well, put it in a pink pencil case, of course!
Outside of Feilding, Manawatu
The skies are darkening, but I am excited - we are about to pass another vehicle for the first time after being passed by countless others - a tractor!
Warm furry feet, somewhere near Hobbiton
This wee heater may not cut it in winter, but it was very much welcomed when it just took the edge off the chilly weather (contrary to popular belief, New Zealand isn't constantly basking under the sun in December, the month that Summer disowned).
As we approached the Rangitiki Gorge, the road got twisty
...which kept Bea happy wrestling the massive leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Rangitiki Gorge
A spectacular wooden bridge marked the transition from the Wairarapa to the Central Plateau
Rangitiki Gorge
There is a lovely little campsite on the river, if anybody happens to be passing by, it is a great spot not far from SH1 to spend the night.
Approaching Waiuru
How to get a Series 1 to 70mph? Crawl up a five mile long hill at 20, then cut the engine at the top, select neutral, and HOLD ON!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd....5_10153238773459311_8454465366990761256_o.jpg
Ohakune, Ruapehu
After a long day of driving, we felt lucky to have a ski bach to kick back with a hot bath.
Bruce Road, Ruapehu
Day 4 dawns, and before pointing home to Auckland we chugged up the mountain to return my knee brace to the ski field, and check out the view.
Chateau Tongariro, Ruapehu
This is where the photos end, for the rest of our journey was relatively unremarkable blacktop on the long 500km slog to Auckland. We stopped off for a swim in the natural hot river known as Kerosene Creek near Rotorua. Despite wanting to stay there forever, we pushed on, arriving home at midnight!
Since then Lucille has been on more adventures, towing a boat and a ton of gear to our New Years camp near Russell, but right now she's sitting in the driveway waiting for some TLC, as I wait for my knee, which has finally been operated on, to get strong enough to operate her clutch!
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
