“4WDing is their passion, not just their business.”
I was new to 4WD’s and not mechanically minded. I had completed a 1 day course with another provider that taught me some things, but I wasn’t anywhere near ready to explore this country alone.
Luckily, I found Pindan Tours and 4WD Training and was struck by their passion for travelling this country, which was matched by their knowledge, qualifications and experience over many decades. I undertook the Basic and Advanced course back to back, which meant one full day of crucial theory followed by two full days of fantastic fun exploring the best of the Flinders Ranges.
The content taught and the way it was taught was top notch. If I didn’t understand something right away, I just had to seek clarification, and Norm could break it down to my level even further or explain it another way. But the best part about the training with Pindan Tours is you do the theory first, but then you do absolutely everything you could ever need to do with a 4WD with your own hands and that makes understanding it all so much easier. You see how useful the theory was when you are driving around applying it. The theory day also shows priceless videos of other people’s mistakes so you can learn from them, I found this video analysis incredibly helpful.
I got to perform every type of terrain driving possible (except mud or snow, it was the Flinders Ranges in summer after all) including both beach sand and desert sand which is softer. I got to drive exclusive rocky terrain and see spectacular sights on huge mountains as well as blast through sand and due to Norm’s local connections, customers doing his training can access spectacular tracks filled with wildlife and challenging terrain that are not open to the rest of the public, giving you otherwise unseen views of the Flinders. I was taught numerous driving skills crucial to safe 4WDing.
You practice every kind of recovery you could possibly need and if you want to do any particular skill more times than usual to feel more confident you can. The one on one training is so well customised to what you need as a future traveller. The assessments are fun and take some time, but they don’t take all day so when they are done you can simply explore glorious 4WD tracks up the mountains, or tear about in the sand dunes of the desert, or practice any particular skills you choose to repeat, all whilst Norm acts as both a driving instructor and a local tour guide full of historical knowledge on this stunning part of Australia.
When the driving and recovering is done, you are blessed with wonderful photos and videos thanks to Coralie. Even if you don’t have your own recovery gear yet, you can do the Advanced recovery course and use all of their gear. But my advice would be speak to Norm first either by email or phone, or wait until you are with him in person, before buying any 4WD gear at all. He has no sponsors of any kind, all his recommendations are made in good faith. But he is far superior to the internet for knowledge of the best products because he actually uses recovery gear more than nearly anyone and has been living and breathing 4WD’s for decades and decades, he knows what works and what is necessary and unnecessary.
I feel so grateful to have met such a kind and knowledgeable couple to give me the necessary skills to explore safely. 4WDing is their passion, not just their business. You also leave with a book that has EVERYTHING you could need written in such an easy to understand way. It has diagrams that you will understand so much better because you have done it all with your own hands.
I give Pindan Tours and 4WD Training 10/10, nothing else you do will match the comprehensive nature of their training, which is delivered to the Nationally Recognised Standards and can provide a 10% discount off Club4x4 insurance. I will hopefully join Norm and Coralie for one of their epic tours through Australia at some stage in the future. But for now, I can travel wherever I wish with the confidence I can keep myself and my loved ones safe even in remote destinations or incredibly rough terrain, and that feeling is priceless.
Adam Pritchard - Golden Grove, S.A.