Bendoran Stn and Three O’clock Stream

Off road traverse from Bucklands Crossing to Middlemarch
Sun 8th Mar 2026

Unique Opportunity - 4WD Vehicle cross country trip that includes visiting Orbell’s Cave and forwarding the Three O’clock Stream

Suitable for families

Travel Off Road Starting from Bucklands Crossing, north of Dunedin, travel across the hill country tracks of Bendoran Station, descend down past Orbell’s Cave, before fording the Three O’clock stream (a tributary of the Taieri River), for a lunch stop beside a historic and remote stone hut.
Then climb up onto the Mt Stoker tableland for a cross country traverse to Middlemarch and trip finish.

Great Views of the hinterland and rolling hill country that surround us.

Restricted to “proper” 4WD vehicles

  • High/Low ratio transfer case

  • All Terrain or Mud Terrain tyres with a min of 4mm tread depth

  • Factory fitted or bolted tow point front and rear

  • Suitable for Ranger’s, Hilux’s, Pajero’s, Prado’s, Patrol’s, and similar

Be Aware - although this trip is not as challenging as the Maungatua Circumnavigation in 2023, it is not suitable for novice drivers. BUT, if you are comfortable driving on gravel roads and steep streets around Dunedin, you will cope fine, and enjoy the opportunity.

Limited to 120 vehicles, divided into 4 groups of 30 vehicles.

Trip Details

Travel across the famed and aptly named Rocklands Station, with its multiple rock outcrops

And its farm tracks

Ford the Sutton Stream

Onto The Burgan Run, with it fantastic rock tors and landscapes

Kids, how many animal shapes can you find?

This is a not to be missed experience where you get to travel across, and photograph, a sample of the unique country that comprises our rural hinterland

Country Style Lunch

We will be stopping for lunch beside the three O’Clock Stream.
Here you will have two options.

  • Bring your own lunch

  • Or (our preference) - support the Strath Taieri School who are providing a delicious Gourmet Angus Burger, Baking and Fresh Fruit lunch as a fundraiser for their school.
    Only $15 a head.
    Order when you purchase your trip ticket

(Of course, as with any trip off road, we recommend you bring a thermos and spare food, in case of unexpected delays)

Event Notes

  • OR4G Event. This event is actually being run by the Otago Recreational 4WD Club (OR4G) as a charity fundraiser. The Taieri Rotary Club is providing the pre-event publicity, ticketing and other logistical support, and the Taieri Rotary Charitable Trust will be the beneficiary of the funds raised.

  • Only pre-purchased tickets. As a condition of insurance, we can not accept cash sales on the day.
    On line ticket sales will close off at 8pm on Sat 7th Mar (or sooner, once the max threshold of 120 entries reached).

  • Start location is Bucklands Crossing (on Ramrock Rd, 30min north of Dunedin), starting in groups between 9am and 10am. More details will be emailed to participants before the event.

  • Pre-Trip Briefing Form. A detailed outline of expected conditions will be sent to participants prior to the trip.

Conditions of Participation

  • 4WD vehicles only, equipped with

    • High/Low transfer case

    • A/T or M/T tyres (NO road tyres) with with a minimum of 4mm tread depth.

    • A factory fitted or bolted tow point front and rear (Replace towballs with a 3.2T bow shackle).

      And current WOF and Rego

  • Fully Licensed Drivers only. No learners or restricted.

  • Required equipment to be carried.
    Although most of the track will be on hard ground, there are a several steep stretches and potentially muddy crossings, so there is a good chance you may need to tow, or be towed, for a short length. So, also to be carried

    • Spade or shovel

    • 9m+ tow strop (standard 4m Repco type tow ropes not adequate)

    • Bow shackle (3.2T min) for attaching tow strop to vehicle

    • Soft Shackle for joining tow strops if needed.

    • Appropriate First Aid Kit

  • AND, your exhaust fitted with a spark arrester.
    NOTE: You can make one quite simply by buying a cheap stainless steel sieve, cutting the mesh out, and folding it over your exhaust secured by a hose clamp.

  • You agree that the Otago Recreational 4WD Club (OR4G) and its members, the Rotary Club of Taieri and its members, event marshals, and the property owners, are indemnified against any loss that may occur by participating in this event, irrespective of the cause

  • You agree to obey all instructions given by event marshals

  • You will receive a full ticket refund if the weather or other events mean the event can not proceed as planned

  • No Dogs allowed

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