A tow-rope, lunch, spades and toilet paper are all the essentials for a four-wheel-drive cross-country experience, David Gibb says.
"You never know when you're going to get caught short and there are no amenities close to where we're going," he said.
Mr Gibb and his wife Heather were among more than 80 four-wheel-drive owners who took on the inaugural Dannevirke to Herby 4x4 scenic drive on Saturday.
"We've got breakfast, dinner and tea in our vehicle, just in case," Mr Gibb of Matamau said. "We've ventured out on our own before, but this is the first group event we've taken part in."
A regular on the 4x4 circuit is Dannevirke's Brian Wilson.
"I like to do two or three a year, but I haven't been out for a quite a while, so I'm looking forward to today," he said. "Taking part in an event like this is a good opportunity to see country you'd never get the chance to under normal circumstances. We're going over some pretty spectacular country."
Trevor Beale, the Herbertville fire chief and organiser of the event, said 82 vehicles and 176 people took part in the fundraiser for the Herbertville Fire Brigade. A wide range of vehicles, from nice, clean, family four-wheel drives, to a paddock full of mud bugs and a converted ambulance, headed cross country to Herbertville.
"We raised almost $8000, with one generous sponsor donating $1500," he said.
"It was a bloody good day. The farmers who allowed us to cross their farms were absolutely brilliant."
The event took participants across more than 60 kilometres of off-road country, with 17 to 20 kilometres on tarsealed roads.
"I hope you've all bought your tow-ropes because we've got some steep hill country to climb," Mr Beale warned drivers at the start on Saturday. "Don't stuff up your day or anyone else's, but enjoy yourselves."
And those tow ropes were definitely needed, Mr Beale reported at the end of the journey.
"Of course when you're heading across country like that, tow ropes are vital. We had one vehicle dented and another slide over a bank, but nothing serious," he said.
"Everybody helped each other and while a few complained about the dust, I was in the lead vehicle for the first time in my life and, boy, it was great up front."
Unfortunately heavy rain meant a traverse across the Manawatu River was out of the question, but a farmer took the 4x4 vehicles on an extended hour adventure of his property, which was fantastic, Mr Beale said.
Plans are already under way to repeat the event next year with funds raised going towards the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter, the local ambulance and the Herbertville Fire Brigade.