The Event : 23 – 30 March 2012
The 4WD Challenge is now in its eighteenth year and is Variety South Australia’s second largest fundraiser behind our flagship event. It is a unique, five star event limited to 85 people.
It is a seven day upmarket, outback adventure taking 4WD vehicles and their owners off the bitumen and into the outback, but doing it in style. The emphasis is on good tracks, fabulous scenery, great food and wine and of course, fun and entertainment. The event is capped to 85 people to ensure that the support teams are able to give the best possible service to the entrants.
Perhaps best described as a mini mobile town, the entrants in their four wheel drive vehicles packed with tents, swags, tables and chairs depart on their journey. The support vehicles that travel with the event tow cool rooms, water tanks, dishwashers, generators, toilet and shower blocks, to the best quality South Australian meats and seafoods that are transformed daily into stunning meals prepared by our own chef's. During the day entrants stop for morning teas and fun stops and at night entertainment ranges from some of Australia's best entertainers to theme nights with entrant participation. The nightly cocktail parties at sunset are also a highlight with quality South Australian wines and hors d'oeuvres served. From the white knuckle 4WD tracks through private properties to some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, this exclusive event has it all.
In the past seventeen years the SA event has raised in excess of $4.08 million net, enabling Variety to make available hundreds of grants to inspire hope and enrich the lives of children in need from the city to the outback.
Our experiences with coordinating the event has seen it evolve as highly professional and well organised, resulting in the continued high level of participation.
The 4WD Challenge is the result of a year of intense planning by a volunteer sub-committee, supported by the resources of the Variety office. This effort combined with twelve months of fundraising by the participants is rewarded by seven days of fantastic fun, adventure, camaraderie, and a celebration of a job well done in making a difference to the lives of children in need in SA.
2012 Proposed Route
The 2012 event will depart Adelaide on Friday 23 March with the official start a few hundred kilometres north of Adelaide on Saturday 24th March.
The proposed route for the 2012 event begins in the Northern Flinders Ranges and travels via Marree and Mooloorina to the The Lake Eyre Basin, a very special part of Australia, that covers one sixth of the continent and holds some of the rarest, least exploited ecosystems on the planet. The Basin is also the cradle of much Indigenous and non-Indigenous culture and history. On a global scale, the Lake Eyre Basin: is one of the largest internally draining systems; has the fifth largest terminal lake; is an arid and semi-arid part of the driest inhabited continent; and is drained by the most variable, major river systems, the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper.
For every summer in living memory, Lake Eyre's water level has been extremely low, if not empty. But now the giant lake in South Australia's usually dry outback is slowly filling to capacity -- potentially reaching the equivalent of up to 60 Sydney Harbours.
From Lake Eyre we will travel northwards to the Warburton Crossing and on to a night in the desert at Poeppels Corner where three State borders meet, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. From there we will head east over Big Red, the most famous of the 1113 sand dunes in the Simpson Desert, to Birdsville where we will spend two nights, heading north to Cacoory Waterhole and back.
Birdsville is a small outback town situated on the banks of the Diamantina River between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibbers of Sturts Stony Desert. The area is steeped in history, from aboriginal meeting places to European settlement in the late 1870s and beyond. Birdsville began life as 'Diamantina Crossing' in 1881 and was given its present name in 1885. It is probably best known for the annual Birdsville Races.
From here we will head south east to the iconic town of Innamincka and the famous Burke & Wills Dig Tree then south to our final destination of Arkaroola.
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is located approximately 670 kilometres north of Adelaide and covers 610 square kilometres of rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes. It is home to over 160 species of birds and the shy and endangered Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby.
An Overview of a Normal Challenge Day
Each evening over dinner there will be a briefing for all entrants. Our Chairman, will have a chat about the day to come and will give you an idea of the type of terrain you will be driving through and any special instructions required.
The start is generally at 8.30am daily, unless otherwise advised at the daily briefing which will take place just before dinner at approx 7.30pm each night. At the start line you will receive your route instructions and pass through check out. The process will continue when you will be checked in and out at lunch and checked in at the night stop. This will ensure the departure and safe arrival of you all.
At all morning and night stops our communications vehicle will be the command centre and check in/out point – if you need a question answered this is where you should go.
Your route instructions will give you an overall and elapsed mileage, in kilometres, to our night destination. As you travel we would suggest you zero your trip meter at each elapsed reading and put a line through the corresponding reading on your instructions. This will ensure that you are aware of where you are on your instructions and hopefully on the road!
Throughout the event you must stay in visual contact with the vehicle in front of you. Your UHF radio should be tuned to Channel 39 – feel free to communicate with the vehicles in front of and behind you. As you are leaving a stop ensure you know the number of the vehicle ahead – you can then call Car No 100, instead of “hey you in the white Toyota Landcruiser”.
Fun stops and Entertainment are a daily occurrence when and where time permits. Involvement in these is not mandatory – if on some occasions you feel like having a snooze under the nearest tree or picking up a good book then that is what you should do.
Where and when appropriate we will stop for morning and afternoon teas under a gum tree, as a group.
Each night at Check In, you will be told the best spot to camp, what’s on that night and any other relevant info. We suggest you then find your camp spot, set up camp, check your tyres, water, oil etc, then shower and change. By that time the Sunset Party will be about ready. This is usually around 6.30pm. Drinks and nibbles are provided by our very generous sponsors.
After sunset, a two course dinner is served, the camp fire is lit and entertainment and camaraderie are enjoyed after a great day on this unique adventure.
We Invite You to Join Us for this Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
Just pack a bag, fly into Adelaide and we will do the rest.
You will have a 4WD vehicle waiting for you, accommodation booked in Adelaide overnight prior to joining with the contingent and setting off on the trip of a life time.
Your vehicle will be fully equipped with satellite phone, UHF radio, recovery kit, first aid kit, fridge, tent, swags, sleeping bags and refreshments, table and chairs.
On the nights when there is accommodation available this will be booked for you. All your meals are included as are the drinks and canapes at the nightly Sunset Parties.
We suggest either two or three people in a vehicle is a very comfortable number but we will accept an entry with four crew members.
Interested? For further information please contact jane Coldbeck, Events Manager on 08 8293 8744 or email jane@varietysa.org.au