Map of the Tour Aotearoa bikepacking route

Tour Aotearoa is an annual cycle tour event[1] and cycling route in New Zealand.[2] The route travels 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) from Cape Reinga to Bluff.[1]

Tour Aotearoa's debut[3] event in 2016 included about 250 riders. The event was organised by Jonathan Kennett, a manager of the New Zealand Cycle Trail project. Kennett said that as the Cycle Trail project manager, he was often asked what was the best route from Cape Reinga to Bluff, which was part of the inspiration for the event. Kennett described the route in 2016 as a "mix of off-road trails, back-country roads, a few bits of highway, and even 90 Mile Beach", and that more sections would move off-road every month as more cycle trails were built.[1]

The event is a brevet, meaning that it is not a race and cyclists ride at their own pace,[1] though participants are expected to complete the challenge in under 30 days and reach 30 photo checkpoints, as well as carry all their own gear.[4][5] The event was biannual, held in 2016, 2018, and 2020,[6] then moved to yearly with an event in 2021.[4]

The New Zealand Herald reported that Jackson Kelly was believed to be the youngest person to complete the event, at age 16. Kelly and his father entered the event in 2021 and completed the route over 28 days.[4]

Route

Writer Graeme Simpson said in 2018 that although the route was only a few years old, "it's already one of New Zealand's great cycling adventures and is recognised as one of the best in the world, too."[5]

The route is a mix of sealed roads, gravel roads, 4WD tracks, cycle trails and mountain bike tracks.[7] The route segments are selected to include as many Great Rides as possible and avoid high traffic main roads. Route segments are updated as new trail is created.[8]

All cycling on the route is free and open to the public all year round, however the route does require four or five commercial boat rides: Hokianga Harbour, Kaipara Harbour (optional), Wanganui River, Cook Strait, and Lake Wakatipu.

Main route segments

North Island
  • Far North Cycleway Ninety Mile Beach
  • Kauri Coast Cycleway
  • Kaipara Missing Link
  • Hauraki Rail Trail
  • Waikato River Trail
  • Timber Trail
  • Kaiwhakauka Track
  • Bridge to Nowhere Mountain Biking Trail
  • Mountains to Sea
  • The Three Rivers
  • Manawatu Cycleway
  • Remutaka Cycle Trail
South Island

See also

  • Te Araroa – the tramping/walking route from Cape Reinga to Bluff

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McBride, Nicholas (20 February 2016). "3000km cycle tour sends riders from Cape Reinga to Bluff". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "SunLive – Conquering the gruelling Tour Aotearoa – The Bay's News First". www.sunlive.co.nz. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ↑ Ramsey, Teresa (16 February 2016). "Extreme mountain bike journey ahead". Waikato Times. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Haxton, David (30 March 2021). "Paraparaumu College student impresses during Tour Aotearoa brevet". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. 1 2 Simpson, Graeme (15 December 2018). "Graeme Simpson: Fancy cycling 3000km in 30 days?". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "Team of Northlanders to cycle length of NZ in 25 days". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ↑ Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails. Wellington, New Zealand: Kennett Brothers. 2012. ISBN 9780986464126.
  8. ↑ "Tour Aotearoa Route Overview". Retrieved 2 August 2021.
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