general information
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Entries open at 9am Wed 28 Nov
When: 8th, 9th & 10th March 2019 timed perfectly for visitors before heading to the North Island for Crankworx.
Where: The top of the South Island, New Zealand in the beautiful Marlborough region. This area is know for it’s spectacular scenery, great riding, wine & lots of sunshine.
How many people: 140 racers. Plus staff, volunteers, doctors, medics, and media.
Day one starts and ends at the beach in White’s Bay. Then we move on to the spectacular Nydia Track, shuttling riders from and back to Rai Valley linking three bays along the Pelorus Sounds’ coastline over four timed stages for day twos’ point to point adventure. We finish in style on the final day, helicopter shuttled to the top of the infamous fern clad Wakamarina track, the crown jewel of NZ native bush track riding for the final three race stages.
Camping:
Each days racing takes place in beautiful locations. Camping would be the best way to take advantage of this while cutting down your travel time each morning and you can continue continue socialising into the evenings around a camp fire.
There is a lovely (non powered) campsite on the beach at Whites Bay. This would be the perfect place to camp out on Thursday night before the race starts. Wake up on the beach, brew some coffee and have a swim in the morning before registration and another swim and a beer after the days racing. Please note, there are NO DOGS allowed at DOC operated camp grounds please.
You can choose to camp here again on Friday evening or if you don’t want to get up too early Saturday and you’d prefer a shorter drive, we suggest that you drive over to the Pelorus campground for Friday evening. There is a cafe called Pelorus Bridge Cafe that serves the usual kiwi fare; chips, toasties, ice cream & flat white’s and a beautiful Lord of the Rings swimming spot on the river complete with rocks to jump off and great campsites (with power) overlooking the river and hot showers.
Of course you can choose to stay here again on Saturday night, but if you want to wake up right where the helicopter will be picking you up for Sunday’s adventure, we suggest you drive out to Butchers Flat and camp out there by the river. This is considered a rustic campsite compared to Whites Bay & Pelorus campgrounds, so no showers, but there is a (basic) toilet and a beautiful river to swim in.
There is also a lovely campsite situated next to the crystal clear Wakamarina river, only 6km from Butchers flat where you can camp for the night or the weekend, so you can get an extra hours sleep in on Sunday morning & pedal on over to Butcher's flat from there. They have really cute cabins that you can book, along with powered or non power camp sites, hot showers & a big indoor communal kitchen. See link below to book your spot.
https://pinedalemotorcamp.kiwi
These campgrounds are all awesome spots, some of them are pretty remote so be prepared and take everything that you may need with you. Don’t forget your sandfly repellant & check with them before if you have a dog that wants to come along for the adventure.
If camping is not your thing: why don’t you get a few mates together and book a house on the sounds. Check out a few of the links below if you’re wanting to rent a house for the weekend. Just check your travel times to each days racing and try find something central. Using Havelock as a general centre point is not too bad. Be careful you are not booking way out along one of the arms of the Sounds.
https://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/Havelock.asp
Motels/Hotels:
http://www.havelockmotel.co.nz
http://www.bbh.co.nz/hd357/Bluemoon-Lodge-Backpackers-in-Havelock-New-Zealand.html
http://www.havelockholidaypark.kiwi
Havelock Hotel
Havelock is a very quaint & pretty, but small town, and accommodation is pretty limited, so don’t wait too long before booking your spot.
On The Track Lodge:
On Saturday the race is held on the stunning Nydia Track and an included lunch will be provided for all the participants at On The Track Lodge. If you have family, partners and or friends out with you for the weekend and they want to come and join you for lunch, cheer you on or give you a high five, they can get to the lodge by taking a water taxi from Havelock to the lodge for a magnificent outing. Another option (my fav) is to head out to the lodge on Friday morning or afternoon with the water taxi, spend Friday night at the lodge in one of their beautiful cottages, a yurt, even a train carriage! Enjoy a meal & some wine & then watching all the racers come in on Saturday afternoon for their BBQ lunch break at the lodge. It’s about a 40 min boat ride from Havelock to On the Track Lodge and you may even spot a pod of dolphins if you’re lucky. The boat ride there is just as spectacular as the lodge itself.
The Mail Boat departs Havelock at 10am and returns at 4pm. If any of your support crew or family are going to be doing this, let us know in advance so we can arrange for lunch & taxi package deal. Booking is essential.
Water Taxi:
Contact Dean at Pelorus Sound Water Taxis if you want to catch a water taxi after you finish Day 2 (Nydia Track) from Kaiuma Bay back to Havelock. This needs to be booked in advance only as you need to arrange your drop off with them. Highly recommended :) If you plan on using this option, you will need to also book a transfer with Shane at Blue Moon Backpackers to take you from Havelock to the race start in the morning.
http://www.pelorussoundwatertaxis.co.nz
http://www.bbh.co.nz/hd357/Bluemoon-Lodge-Backpackers-in-Havelock-New-Zealand.html
Restaurants & Coffee shops:
Havelock is the “biggest” town and sort of the centre point between the three days. They have some lovely restaurants and coffee shops that caters to all different budgets and tastes. The Green lipped mussels and seafood is plentiful and fresh. Make sure to check the hours of all the operations as we are still in a very small town.
Some of our fav's:
Mills Bay Mussels
Apples for Charlotte - great proper strong espresso & baked goods (10am - 4pm)
The Inlet Bakery & Cafe.
Head on over to The Slip Inn Cafe at the Havelock marina if you're in town on Sunday night for a meal & a few beers for our "unofficial" after party.
Four Square Grocery Store:
There is one small Four Square “grocery” store in Havelock. You will be able to get all your basic supplies here, but don’t be expecting to find many gluten free or paleo or any other food fad type products here, so if you’re after specific foods, make sure that you stock up in either Picton, Blenheim or Nelson before you head out for the weekend.
Spring Creek:
Springs Junction is the closest little town (and the only town) to Whites Bay. They have a great Four Square shop (6:30am - 7pm) that serves real coffee from a proper machine, they open early, there is a gas station, a fish & chips shop a backpackers (not sure how amazing this one is), a small hotel and a campsite. The other options are some very top dollar boutique type hotels and lodges on some of the wineries in the surrounding area.