Bicycle Network Victoria: Do More - Volunteer

Volunteering on the 2012 Great Escapade will be like no other event we have done! Set in the beautiful North Island of NZ this ride promises to provide you with experiences and sites that will live with you long after the hard work has finished.

This ride is a much smaller event than our usual multi day rides, and as such our volunteer teams are quite different to they have been on previous rides. It is expected that everyone who joins us in NZ will be prepared to be flexible in their approach and be ready to switch roles when required and do what it takes to ensure a memorable experience for the riders and also other volunteers.

We are not using any riding volunteer on this escapade, so the only way to volunteer is full time. If you wish to ride, please register as a rider here

There will definitely be more people applying for roles that there are spots available so make sure that you sell yourself in the application process.

Please note: You are responsible for your own transport to and from Auckland. We are not able supply flights. We will provide bus transport from Auckland, but we recommend that you take advantage of this great oppurtunity to travel before the ride and meet us in Gisborne for the start!

There are a few things to note about this ride if you are not from New Zealand:

1. You will need a valid passport to enter New Zealand

This may seem obvious but it is worth stating. New Zealand is a foreign country and you will require a valid passport to enter the country from Australia, please physically check you passport to ensure that you have at least 6 months left on it. If you need to have a passport issued you will need to start the process as soon as possible as it takes a while to get one. Please visit www.passports.gov.au to find out everything you need to regarding passports.

2. Travel times in NZ are much greater than Australia.

The bus ride from Auckland to Gisborne (the start of the ride) is around 7-9 hours on a bus. As such we are strongly recommending that people take a few days to make their own way to the start of the ride. It is a great chance to see a bit of NZ and domestic coach travel is very reasonably priced Intercity coaches has bus trips from $1 and most are well under what you would expect to pay in Australia. Please allow for plenty of time to get to and from the ride. especially with your flight bookings.

3. Quarantine restrictions in New Zealand are very strict

To protect the unique ecosystems of the country New Zealand has very strict rules on what you can bring into the country. This means that any camping equipment (tents boots etc.) need to be totally clean to get in.
Remember - it is OK to bring these things to New Zealand but you MUST declare them. they will not be confiscated but they will be inspected and may be cleaned/disinfected before being allowed to bring into the country.Pleas visit the New Zealand Biosecurity website for information.