It has been somewhat of a long term goal of mine to ride the length of New Zealand, but life often get in the way- not enough time, bad traffic, too much to organise and so on. I first heard about Tour Aotearoa, known as TA to participants, about 4-5 years ago. It’s a route that takes you from Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, to Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island. The great thing about TA is that a lot of logistical information is available and there is plenty of knowledge from people who have completed the tour on the TA website and facebook group. With Covid disrupting my plans for a group unicycle tour, I thought this is an ideal opportunity to see more of NZ before tourists return.

The tour is a brevet, which is a timed, long distance cycling event. There is no support. Riders camp or arrange their own accommodation, carry their own gear, and pass through 30 photo checkpoints. Riders can do TA on their own, or start in official waves from 25th February. You have between 10-30 days to complete the 3000km ride. There are no prizes, just bragging rights!

“Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself“

–Franklin D. Roosevelt

So can I do it? I guess you’ll find out over the next month. I ride the 160km Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge every year- it usually takes 8-10 hours. I have done multiple unicycle tours and unipacking trips around the world. However, to complete TA in under 30 days, I need to ride 100km+ back to back, for 30 days! It will be my longest and most challenging tour to date.

The best way to get started is not to think about it. Once the entry fee (a $100 donation to charity), the carbon offset ticket, and the spot tracker hire is paid, and you tell people about it, there is no backing out!