The ride starts at Walter Peak Station, on the other side of Lake Wakatipu. I joined a group of riders on a chartered barge, leaving at 8am. We arrived at Walter Peak about 40min later.  

It would a 100% gravel day, mostly along farm roads, but with some cycle trail thrown in. The route took us through a couple of high country stations- Walter Peak and Mt Nicolas, with absolutely stunning views.  There were plenty of photo stops. 

It’s over 100km between Walter Peak and Mossburn, so it’s important to carry sufficient food and water. I was weighed down again by 3.75L of water and chocolate milk, all of which I consumed by days end. 

There were some tricky corrugated sections, but the gravel was mostly well behaved. It does take a  lot of concentration when you’re spinning at 20km/hr without suspension and only one contact patch over loose ground. I was riding ‘in zone’ for much of the day, just focused on keeping the ship upright. 

The first 30km would climb from 300m to over 700m elevation, with the final 2km rising 200m. Sadly, the ‘Von Hill’ would be the last major climb of Tour Aotearoa!

A question I have been asked right from the start by various riders is why am I riding a unicycle. Mostly my reply has been ‘why not’? There are easier ways to see the country than on a unicycle, but equally the same can be said of a bike. 
The long answer is that it feels good. You have a connection with your machine, it’s an extension of yourself. On a bike or geared unicycle, there is drag and slop due to the drivetrain or gearing mechanism. Not so when it is direct drive. 

Another question that comes up often is whether I’m raising money for charity. In the past I have done, but these days I feel strongly that people should donate to causes they believe in, not because someone is doing something vaguely unusual or challenging.  

The nice thing about unicycling is that no matter what you take on, there is a good chance you will be among the first. I’m not the only rider to unicycle the length of NZ, but I’d be the first to do so via the Tour Aotearoa brevet. My goal is to complete it by the rules, which means under 30 days, unsupported, and to visit all photo checkpoints. 

Hopefully this inspires others to give unicycling a go, and shows unicyclists what is possible in terms of distance and touring. 

I finished the ride at Mossburn Railway Hotel, and had their absolutely enormous burger and chips for dinner. Happy tummy happy riding.