This would have to be the biggest event ever to happen on the Tongariro River Trail – as part of the massive 666 km GODZONE event involving 75 weary teams of four. They are biking down the Tongariro River Trail today – on their return from crossing the Kaimanawas to the transition campsite at Umukarikari where the tired but still enthusiastic media representative, Anna Ingham, was interviewed by Tongariro River Motel.

There has been no prior publicity locally as the route was kept secret. This is the first time this multi sport event has been held in the North Island so they had to include a section of the most famous bike trail in the North Island – the Tongariro River Trail. From Turangi yacht club they take to the water to paddle over 50 km to Kinloch. The row of portable dunnies at the transition camp indicates how many are involved in this event.

SWMBO would not allow me to rave about everyone’s favourite competitor, Richie McCaw, as we were supposed to be up there to survey the TRM BIG DAY OUT trail from Tree Trunk Gorge to Urchins Camp to Pillars of Hercules to Umukarikari to Poutu Dam to the canal speed section to eventually link up with the Tongariro River Trail .

Ross Marshall was biking the TRM BIG DAY OUT bike trail to provide his exclusive report – watch this space…

Other images are from the Umukarikari transition camp.