Guidelines for navigating Te Paki Stream.
 
Firstly, read the Getting Around section of Ninety Mile Beach - there are many good tips in there for basic driving on sand.

Here are the rules that are specific for Te Paki Stream and driving in water.

Keep out of the water as much as possible - always aim for the sand patches.

DO NOT stop in the water - some areas are slowsand - a slower version of quicksand.

When going from water to sand or sand to water if there is a drop / rise try to take it on a angle - same reason as in the Ninety Mile Beach guide.

When coming from Ninety Mile Beach up the stream you will come to a part where the stream splits into two channels with bullrushes growing between the two of them.  (If you are coming downsteam from the car park area, you will reach this part fairly quickly.)

You need to be able to quickly see where the main tyre tracks go as sometimes the channels can be deep (in summertime with not much rain they will be fine.)  Sometimes there is sand that is exposed around this area - you could park and get out and walk to the channels to see what they are like.  NOTE: if you park make sure that it is not on an area where other vehicles coming up or down the stream would want to use!

Make sure your car is in 3rd gear and go for it - DO NOT STOP!!!!  If you need to change down to second gear do it FAST!!!

If you have a 4WD and are running in 4H then use 3rd gear also.  If running in 4L use second and chug along.

These Rules Apply To Te Paki Only - different streams different rules!