Bicycle Network Victoria: Great Escapade New Zealand

How do I get to Gisborne?

If you have booked transport with Bicycle Network Victoria for either yourself or yourself and your bike, here is some important information.

The bus will pick up from Auckland CBD at Quay St, opposite Vector Arena at 7 Quay Street – (Bus parking along street adjacent to container yards)  and will be leaving at 7.30am on Friday, 17th February.

There will also be transport leaving at 7.30am on 17th February from the Charter Coach pick up area at the International Airport Terminal (turn left past McDonalds).

If you still want a quicker option Gisborne has an airport, and there are a number of other airports within 2-3 hours drive of Gisborne.

How do I get home from Taupo?

Lake Taupo is an amazing site so we don’t imagine that you will want to rush to get home. Also, given the distances to travel back to Auckland and Wellington it may be quite stressful to organise transport home on the final day.

• Distance/time from Taupo to Auckland: 278km/ 4hours
• Distance/time from Taupo to Wellington: 308km / 5hours 25 mins

Therefore there will be no organised transport from Taupo on February 26, however you are free to organise your own transport.

There are a number of accommodation options in Taupo including a good camping ground close to the centre of town.

We are currently looking at organizing an “unofficial” post ride camp site for you there. Or you may want to investigate the multitude of hotels and motels.

There will be organised transport from Taupo to Auckland on Monday February 27th, arriving in Auckland not before 2pm. The cost will be $100 you and your bike or $60 bike only.

What will I be having for lunch?

Here is the lunch menu for the ride!

Is Bicycle Network Victoria  providing bike boxes?

Bicycle Network Victoria is not selling or providing bike boxes for the Great Escapade New Zealand 2012.

Please note the option you tick as part of your registration is in reference to the type of box you are intending to use for your bike.

The $30 charge for a hard case is an administration fee that reflects the fact that hard cases are generally not a standard size and do not stack as well as a cardboard box.

We are happy to provide a refund of the $30 if you thought you were purchasing a hard case.

We are also happy to assist you in tracking down a cardboard box in your city.

What happens at the finish?

On February 26 as you cycle from Whakamaru you will crest the top of a hill and catch your first glimpse of the spectacular Lake Taupo. A few kilometres later you will arrive on the banks of the lake in the centre of Taupo finishing along Lake Terrace. There will be a welcome for you on Northcroft Terrace, where you will be able to have a drink and some food and relax looking out over the lake whislt you contemplate and celebrate your achievement.

Adjacent to the finish area you will find the Suncourt Motel (Www.suncourt.co.NZ). They are offering a special deal a rate for the Sunday night of $125 or stay Sunday and Monday Night for $200. You can book this through their website or email the Suncourt direct (mentioning in the subject line GENZ 2012)

Although Taupo is not an official campsite, we have arranged for you who would like to camp a site close to the finish line. However please be aware that there will be no catering in Taupo provided by the organisers.

Taupo has a host of motels, bars and cafes so you have plenty of options.

What should I pack?

Having just completed a complete trip around the ride, without doubt the first thing you will need is swimmers.

We would strongly advise that you carry your swimmers every day on the bike as there will be opportunities from rivers to oceans to hot springs to pause your riding and just jump in.

We promise you that if you don’t on Day 2 you will be by Day 3!!!

Is there Pre Ride and Post Ride Camping?

The Gisborne campsite will be set up as an “unofficial” campsite for Friday 17th, this means that you can arrive and camp but there will be no meals provided.

For those of you intending to arrive in Gisborne earlier than that, you will be welcome to stay here or you might like a comfortable bed in one of the many motels.

In Taupo there will be unoffical camping provided for the Sunday night only, as with pre ride camping there will not be any meals provided.
 

Why is the cost higher than other Bicycle Network Victoria multi day rides?

The Great Escapade New Zealand 2012 is based upon competitor touring rides in New Zealand as well as ensuring that the event is delivered at Bicycle Network Victoria’s high standard of services and logistics. We are excited to bring you an event to remember that is the best of a Great Victorian Bike Ride with a smaller group of riders.

The Great Escapade New Zealand 2012 works out at $200 per day for an experience of a life time.

 What will the weather be like?

Average temperatures for February range between 17.9-18.9 for the Gisborne, Rotorua, Taupo areas

The mean number of wet days for February are Rotorua 7, Gisborne 7 and Taupo 6

The mean rainfall, Rotorua 101mm, Gisborne 78mm, Taupo 77mm

The mean minimum temperature is Rotorua 12.9, Gisborne 13.6 and Taupo 11.6

Will there be a short ride option?

Not on this event, the Great Escapade New Zealand will only be run as a full 9 day ride.

Will sleep easy be available?

Sleep Easy will be available as an option for the ride by 31 August 2011. Sleep Easy tents will cost either $500 or $550 (dependent on how many days you choose)

Is it capped?

The Great Escapade New Zealand is the same as our other events, which are not capped. However, saying that we are expecting rider numbers to be in the hundreds, not thousands. 

Does it include flights and getting to the event

The cost of your registration does not include flights for the rider. Check our the list of what is included for the event price.

How hard will the hills be?

The Great Escapade New Zealand for 2012 contains plenty of spectacular riding.  The 2012 ride is mainly comprised of undulating terrain with climbs evenly dispersed throughout the nine-day ride. The largest of the climbs that you will come across will be similar to those just found on the outskirts of Melbourne.

If you have ridden or know the reputation of the Kinglake loop or the 1 in 20 climbs (found just outside Melbourne), then you can base your training around that, as the largest hills tackled on the Great Escapade New Zealand are no bigger than these climbs.