An off-road South Island adventure

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Out There South: An off-road South Island adventure

A new book being launched in Ponsonby tonight, from Nelson-based Craig Potton Publishing, documents a four-wheel drive adventure of a lifetime.

Out There South, A 4WD Adventure in New Zealand’s South Island by Chris Morton and Tony Bridge is the record of a trip shared by two of the country’s top outdoor photographers, and their friends, through some of this country’s most spectacular landscapes. The drive took 17 days and covered 6,724 kilometres of back country.

Beginning in the huge braided river valleys of South Canterbury, they drove through the tussock-land of the Mackenzie Country and Central Otago, deep into Fiordland and northern Southland, and then tackled some of the wildest and wet forest tracks on the West Coast.

The vehicles they used were Toyota Prado KZ-TE diesels, each fitted with snorkels, snatch ropes, tow hooks and UHF radios. Along the way they found old settlements rotting in the bush; camped at the foot of a glacier and watched the ice shimmering in the moonlight; got lost in the mist at dusk; marvelled at the corduroy tracks and water races built by goldminers of times past; and they learned a thing or two.

“It had been 35 years since I’d last attempted a significant river crossing and I’d forgotten everything I knew,” says Tony.

“I doubt any of us will ever forget it,” says Chris. “But owning a four-wheel-drive gives us city dwellers the chance to sample the rural life, to get out there in all that landscape and weather. It’s an intoxicating experience.”

It’s a hard road finding the perfect off-road 4WD experience but by this account it’s well worth the effort. Out There: South by Chris Morton and Tony Bridge will be in-stores in time for Fathers’ Day.

Publication details:
Out There South: A 4WD Adventure in New Zealand’s South Island by Chris Morton and Tony Bridge is published by Craig Potton Publishing.
RRP NZ$49.99
ISBN: 978 1 877517 23 5
It is available to purchase from bookstores nationwide and online from www.craigpotton.co.nz

About the authors:
After a successful career in engineering and property development, Chris Morton devoted himself to photography. Most recently he has been heavily involved in the Our Place World Heritage Project, photographing in eleven countries around the world. He has exhibited his work in New Zealand and has an exhibition in Australia this September.

Tony Bridge worked as a high school teacher for many years before following his passion into fulltime photography. Not only is he well known for the quality of his images, but he has an international reputation for his photographic teaching and mentoring. His work is supported by Sony New Zealand, Swazi clothing, onOne software and Perfectly Clear software.

ENDS

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