It’s been a real privilege to spend time in the Hawke’s bay region, meet some amazing people and explore the incredible landscapes in the surrounding area.

Date: 20-23th of January 2023
Location: Napier, NSW
Duration: 48 hour event
Entries:  ENTER HERE
Team size: 4 person, Supported + Un-Supported Options
Part of the ARWS Oceania Series

Although GeoQuest has a long history in Australia, the Hawke’s Bay event is the first edition in New Zealand and will be a new experience for many racers. For those familiar with GeoQuest Australia, the New Zealand event will be organised in exactly the same way using the same program, logistics and systems. The main exceptions will be a little bit of extra mandatory gear and for 2023, the use of Pack Rafts in the full course (something we are exploring for Australia in 2023).

All the competitor information on the GeoQuest website is relevant to both NZ and Australia events. For those new to GeoQuest, this article highlights a few important points in support of the information on the GeoQuest website.

Event Information Kit and event documents

One to two weeks before the event we will send out the event information kit via email, it will also be posted to the website and on social media. This contains all the essential information teams need to know ahead of the event including the event logistics plan so teams can prepare their gear appropriately.

On the day before race start – Friday 20 January – registration is open from 9am to 12pm, at 3pm the course is revealed at the race briefing. Teams will receive a course guide and two sets of race maps. This will contain all the information teams will need to complete the course. A PDF Document for support crews will also be made available with details of how to get to each transition area and what is available at each.

You can see an example of the 2022 Australian Info Kit, course maps, course guide, support crew notes and control cards in the Geo Docs folder here: 2023 Race Docs

Race HQ

Race HQ for the event will be the at the Napier War Memorial Centre along the foreshore. This is where teams will register, receive the course and is the location of the finish line and presentations.

Address: 48 Marine Parade, Private Bag 6010, Napier 4140, New Zealand

Comments on the Course

The Hawke’s Bay course will be a typical GeoQuest course, this means about 10 legs including approximately 120kms of mountain biking, 50kms of kayaking or water based travel, and 50kms of foot based travel. The half course is approximately half this distance with a bit of extra on the bike. Of course teams need to be prepared for anything on the day and there is often a bit of give and take with these distances as we build the course around the local landscape. In terms of navigation, the course is a linear course where teams will need to collect check points (CPs) in order to complete each leg. There will be a couple of orienteering or rogaine style legs as well with multiple route choices available.

The course will feature a very wide range of terrain including remote rivers, forestry roads, tramping trails, overgrown tracks, bike ways, an alpine crossing, and a canyoneering leg down a gorge. Some sections of the course will be steep and slow and some very fast and flat – it’s going to be a real adventure.

Kayaking – the kayaking legs on the full course will require pack rafts (teams to provide) with teams expected to trek and paddle with their gear so it’s worth being prepared for this. Half course teams do not need pack rafts and will use inflatable rafts which will be provided. Paddles, PFDs and white water helmets will be available for all teams but these need to be pre-booked for a small cost ($5 per item) to ensure we have enough at the event – booking information will be included in the information kit. The kayaking for both courses is along grade 2 waterways with some fun and challenging sections. Both the full and half course teams will need white water helmets.

If you’re interested in pack rafts and would like to explore purchasing one please contact www.blueduckpackrafting.co.nz

Alpine Crossing – depending on the weather conditions on the day, teams will travel into an alpine area. The gear on the mandatory gear list is sufficient to ensure your safety in this area, but should be considered a minimum requirement. It is worth planning ahead to ensure you have a few extra layers as it will be exposed can get quite cold and windy. There has been snow in the area in January.

Canyoneering – for many this will be a unique experience and one of the highlights of the full course. Canyoneering involves following a free-flowing river through gorges, waterfalls, rapids, canyons and whatever else arises from nature. In order to do this you'll be walking, scrambling, jumping, sliding, swimming, floating and possibly swearing. One thing's for certain – you're going to get wet! If you feel the cold, it’s worth packing a wetsuit or wetsuit top and pants or extra thermal top, fleece and shell layer for this leg. PFD and white water helmet will be mandatory for this leg.

Logistics

Un-supported Teams (teams that do not have support crews) will need 2 x 100 litre gear boxes clearly marked with a team name and Box A and Box B. The logistics plan included in the Information Kit will tell you where these will be placed around the course. Both full and half un-supported teams will need a Bike Box clearly labeled with team name. Dimensions of the bike box are available on the website at https://www.geoquest.com.au/mandatory-gear

The GeoQuest logistics team will move gear around the course for unsupported teams.

Support Crew Cars – For teams with support crews all areas will be accessible with a normal car, 4x4 vehicles are not necessary. There will be travel on shingle / gravel roads so an SUV, AWD or 4x4 is highly recommended.

Mandatory Gear

GeoQuest competitors are required carry mandatory items to maximise their safety during the event and need to be familiar with the event logistics for AR races.

Mountain Designs GeoQuest is an ARWS Regional Round and has adopted the Mandatory Gear Lists promulgated by the Adventure Racing World Series. GeoQuest uses the ‘Regional Rounds’ list found at http://arworldseries.com/resources/

On top of the ARWS list, there are also a few additional items that are necessary for the GeoQuest NZ event. These are:

• White Water Helmet, cycle helmet is not acceptable (these will be available for hire)

• Fleece Top, synthetic, minimum 100 weight

• Rain Pants / Shell Layer Bottom, to the same specifications as the Shell Layer Top on the mandatory gear list

• Thermal Gloves

Also recommended:

• Wetsuit or extra warm gear for getting wet on the canyoneering leg