Sunday was a chance for 120 people to get off the beaten track in Central during the annual Alexandra Lions Club four wheel drive (4WD) fundraiser.

Event convener Barry McCall said the response was great with all the 42 vehicle spots filled and approximately $5000 being raised.

The day featured a guided tour past Poolburn Dam to Linnburn Station for a lunch stop at the old woolshed, then to Lake Onslow before finishing up at Roxburgh East. 

The Linnburn Station woolshed was the lunch spot for this year's safari. PHOTO: Supplied 

Barry said after eight or nine years of experience organising the fundraiser it went smoothly and they had received a lot of positive feedback from this year's attendees.

“Significant was how popular it was this year, by Christmas it was full . . . and we would have turned away 30 more vehicles after that.

“Next year I’m expecting one hell of a flurry of entries.”

Entries open at the start of December and Barry’s advice is to get in early to confirm your spot.

The size of the group is constrained by the radio transmitting unit that is in the middle vehicle; it allows participants to tune into local commentary covering history, facts, figures and driving information.

“We want people to enjoy the day, it’s not about [making] money . . . there are also good jokes told by the radio commentary.”

Beautiful Poolburn scenery is a highlight of the tour. PHOTO: Supplied 

Departure was from Ice Inline at 10.30am and the group ended up completing 158 km in total, a few extra kms were added “because of a bog hole in the road.”

When asked if they would ever do more than one safari a year Barry said “once a year is enough” and it was "too big an effort to do any more than that.”

All the profits raised were donated to the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust. 

Read more: Beyond the locked gates Alexandra Lions Club 4WD Safari