More than 50 machines lined up in the staging paddock, directly behind the earthmoving arena
Porter’s Caterpillar 627 scraper was a new addition to the field this year. Paul Clarke’s D9G is pictured push-loading it.
J Swap’s Caterpillar 992B loader waits on Paul Clarke’s Caterpillar 769B truck to back in
Modem scrapers performed several displays over the three-day event. Central Machine Hire’s Caterpillar 627F shows its push-pull ability.
All action in the earthmoving pit
TDX demonstrated a new Volvo EC550EL 50T class excavator
Paul Clarke at the helm of his Caterpillar 16 grader tidying the road in front of the pit
Founding show partner Central Machine Hire displayed a range of hire equipment
Russell Fifteen Motor Patrol grader
Vic Draper at the controls of the recently restored W Stevenson & Sons Caterpillar DW20e scraper
Modern machines had more of a presence at this year’s event
Oceania Gold’s Caterpillar 789D dwarfs the J Swap Caterpillar 992B loader as it exits the pit
Thomson Earthmoving’s Caterpillar D9T with a good blade full
Paul Clarke’s Terex TS14 being push-loaded by the 82-50 bulldozer
Among several new machines making their first debut at Wanaka were Porter’s Terex TS14 and Paul Clarke’s Terex 82-30, in the livery of former Dunedin contractor JC Mowat & Sons
All the way from Central Hawke’s Bay was this Terex TS8 twin-engine scraper. These machines were designed for the military to be carried in a C130 Hercules aircraft.
J Swap Contractors recently restored a Caterpillar 992B wheel loader
A trio from the Clarke collection, a Caterpillar 660 motor scraper is push-loaded by the Terex 82-80 and Euclid TC12 bulldozers
Oceania Gold’s Caterpillar 789D had a steady procession of people climbing onboard to check out the operator’s station
A highlight for many seasoned machinery enthusiasts was the debut of Paul Clarke’s 84W series, 700hp, Caterpillar D10
Komatsu WA380 loading out topsoil
More than 50 machines lined up in the staging paddock, directly behind the earthmoving arena
Porter’s Caterpillar 627 scraper was a new addition to the field this year. Paul Clarke’s D9G is pictured push-loading it.
J Swap’s Caterpillar 992B loader waits on Paul Clarke’s Caterpillar 769B truck to back in
Modem scrapers performed several displays over the three-day event. Central Machine Hire’s Caterpillar 627F shows its push-pull ability.
All action in the earthmoving pit
TDX demonstrated a new Volvo EC550EL 50T class excavator
Paul Clarke at the helm of his Caterpillar 16 grader tidying the road in front of the pit
Founding show partner Central Machine Hire displayed a range of hire equipment
Russell Fifteen Motor Patrol grader
Vic Draper at the controls of the recently restored W Stevenson & Sons Caterpillar DW20e scraper
Modern machines had more of a presence at this year’s event
Oceania Gold’s Caterpillar 789D dwarfs the J Swap Caterpillar 992B loader as it exits the pit
Thomson Earthmoving’s Caterpillar D9T with a good blade full
Paul Clarke’s Terex TS14 being push-loaded by the 82-50 bulldozer
Among several new machines making their first debut at Wanaka were Porter’s Terex TS14 and Paul Clarke’s Terex 82-30, in the livery of former Dunedin contractor JC Mowat & Sons
All the way from Central Hawke’s Bay was this Terex TS8 twin-engine scraper. These machines were designed for the military to be carried in a C130 Hercules aircraft.
J Swap Contractors recently restored a Caterpillar 992B wheel loader
A trio from the Clarke collection, a Caterpillar 660 motor scraper is push-loaded by the Terex 82-80 and Euclid TC12 bulldozers
Oceania Gold’s Caterpillar 789D had a steady procession of people climbing onboard to check out the operator’s station
A highlight for many seasoned machinery enthusiasts was the debut of Paul Clarke’s 84W series, 700hp, Caterpillar D10
Komatsu WA380 loading out topsoil
Organisers of Wheels at Wanaka 2023 report that more than 40,000 spectators visited the spectacular event over three days
Organisers of Wheels at Wanaka 2023 report that more than 40,000 spectators visited the spectacular event over the three days of Easter weekend, with Craig McCauley getting machine pics for Deals on Wheels.
‘What are they going to do next?’ was one comment that emerged from a spectator as Oceania Gold’s Caterpillar 789D haul truck entered the pit at the Terra Cat earthmoving practice day on Good Friday.
The earthmoving practice day is a precursor to the main Wheels at Wanaka event, which takes place bi-annually in the Central Otago town over Easter weekend, featuring almost everything with wheels or tracks.
‘100 years of the Scraper’ was a feature of the 2023 event – probably the best overall representation of that type of equipment to be seen anywhere in the western world, with a turnout from early horse-drawn machines to single engine, twin power, and multiple types of elevating scrapers.
Machines from as far afield as the Waikato were trucked to Wanaka, especially for the event, emphasising the huge following the popular show now attracts.