Last updated: 22 September 2026
The Basics
Is it a race?
No. It is a brevet. This means that it is a personal challenge against the clock and distance, not against other riders. To be included in the results you will need to average 150 km/day which results in a cut off of 24 days for the North Island, 16 days for the South Island, and 40 days for both.
When is the next Kiwi Rim Ride?
After January when traffic flows will be lower.
The inaugural Kiwi Rim Ride Grand Départs are planned as follows:
- 6 February 2027 at 07:00: Wellington sign at Wellington Harbour (North Island route)
- 20 February 2027 at 07:00: Picton War Memorial in Picton near the ferry (South Island route)
We will try and organise a social event the evening before if there is sufficient interest.
Where do I find the route?
The route is maintained at www.ridewithgps.com and also here under Downloads. It may be updated at any time without notice. Full details are under: The Route
What are the distances?
For the paved event, about 3,600 km for the North Island and 2,550 km for the South Island.
How do I register?
Registering involves completing a waiver and paying the $75 tracker fee and $75 donation to the Project Rameka through MAProgress.
Who is behind the Kiwi Rim Ride?
The Kiwi Rim Ride was conceived of by Chris Bennett, inspired by and based on Joanna Sharpe's 2025 WUCA and Guinness World Record ride around the South Island.
Keeping to the Spirit of the Adventure
What are the rules?
It is a self-supported ride based on World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA) rules. For more see The Rules.
Do I have to stay alone?
No.
Comeraderie and friendships are one of the greatest blessings that come from bikepacking events. Buddying up is allowed. Unlike Lost Dot and similar events, riding in pairs or groups, and sharing accommodation or resupply is fully permitted as long as you are not drafting. This turns a challenging endurance ride into a shared journey where forming lasting friendships is as much a part of the experience as finishing the course.
What rest is required?
We have adopted a 4 h every 36 h as the minimum rest required. This is the policy used in the Race Across France based on sleep research. It means that if you are firing on all cylinders and riding well you can keep going. To a point.
In reality, only a few riders are able to function like this so if you haven't trained yourself with sleep management don't even consider it and revert to the more common New Zealand standard of 6 h every 24 h. There are places to sleep every 200-300 km or so along the route.
What are the equipment requirements?
See Bicycle and Equipment Requirements. You will need to send us a form verifying that you comply with these requirements at least 7 days before the Grand Départs or your tracker will not show you as a participant.
What is your media policy?
No outside film crews or photographers. Participants should document their own journeys (e.g., cameras, filming vlogs, or posting on social media during their rest stops) as long as it does not breach safety rules.
Trail Magic, Angels and Visitation
[Stolen from Tour Te Waipuamu FAQ who stole it from Jefe's Colorado Trail Race Explainer].
The rule is - if you know the person, say no. (With our famous 2º of separation in NZ, this rules out pretty much everyone!)
Trail Magic is and should be treated like a super lucky, tiny whiff of fresh air, not a resupply. If you screw up and are out of food and water, that is not anybody else’s problem. If you are hoping for/needing trail magic you are doing it wrong. Be prepared enough to say no. Sure taking a Coke from a total stranger is not a huge deal and is fine. Don’t make it a habit and do not ask/beg/or hint that you are in need when out on the trail. This is a test to see how far you can go and how well you can prepare for it. Do not bring the ride down to you, rise up to the level of the ride and do your best.
For the Dotwatchers out there as far as meeting riders goes, my rule is keep it between extremely limited to not at all. Racers, do not ask anyone to meet you out there, it simply isn’t fair to those that travel from afar to race and it opens the door to taking food/ water/ encouragement. Ultimately if someone is there at a trailhead without any arrangement, say hi, but don’t take advantage of the situation. Jefe Branham
Tracking and Verifying Your Ride
Where is the tracking link during the event?
It is on MAProgress here.
How do I verify my ride?
There are intermediate checkpoints in the GPX files which are located to ensure that you don't take short cuts. At each checkpoint you need to have your Brevet Card notarised and take a GPS referenced photo. If you are making a purchase from a business at the checkpoint just record your transaction number for notarisation.
We hope to have printed Brevet Cards for you at the Grand Départ. Failing that, you will need to print your own using the downloadle Brevet Card.
During the ride, you are to capture at least three GPS-tagged photos per day (including the rider's face at start, mid-ride, and end) and one 10-second GPS-tagged video per day.
If I am following the ride via the tracker can I warn a rider they are off course?
Please don't. It's a self-supported journey. The rider will eventually work out what has happened and sort themselves out.
Practical Considerations
What happens if a road is closed?
Find the nearest alternative route.
If the construction workers insist on you putting your bike into a vehicle to pass through the work zone, pause your GPS and make a note of what happened. Take a photo as evidence.
Can I ride a bicycle path next to the road?
Yes. In particular, the Whale Trail (when completed) heading north towards Picton will offer a traffic-free alternative to the main road.
Do I need insurance if I am coming from overseas?
[Courtesy of the Tour Te Waipunamu FAQ]: There is no requirement for any rider to have insurance, but you may want to have basic travel insurance. New Zealand has the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) which covers every persons rescue and accident-related medical costs while they are in New Zealand. However, for non-accident medical costs, repatriation and other insurance cover, you will likely want some travel insurance. See more here.
What will the traffic be like?
If you are not comfortable cycling with heavy traffic on open roads the Kiwi Rim RIde is not for you. We are circumnavigating New Zealand on its outermost roads, and these are often busy State Highways, with limited (if any) shoulders. Where possible we are using lower volume local roads, but these will have even less shoulders than State Highways.
For individual time trial (ITT) riders, avoid riding from Christmas to mid-January. That is when much of New Zealand is on holiday and we see traffic volumes often doubling over normal levels. That is why the Grand Départs are scheduled for February.
Traffic volumes will It will vary hugely depending where you are on the routes, and the time you are riding.
If there is cycle path next to the road, feel free to take it.
For more details please see our assessment of Road Safety Risks.
Is there a discussion forum?
Yes. We have a discussion forum on Facebook under Kiwi Rim Ride Discussion.
Any Advice on Planning?
Upload the route to www.easyride.cc. This is what we used to prepare the GPX files with supply points. Easyride shows markers for every 10 km along the route so it is easy to plan potential accommodation stops based on your anticipated daily distance. It also shows resupply points within a user specified buffer (200 m was used for preparing our GPX files with supply points).
Once you have your GPX file with supply points for downloading, you can use www.poi2cue.com to create an Excel workbook with the distances to each of the points of interest.
Both of these are 'donation ware' so please consider buying the developers a coffee or ice cream!
Still have questions? Check our our Facebook discussion page or mail