Geoquest was one of the first Australian adventure races back in 2002, and has been the country’s premier race in all that time, attracting the very best Australian and international competitors. Now, race organisers Wild and Co. are launching the race in New Zealand as part of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) Oceania circuit.

The new Mountain Designs Geoquest New Zealand race will take place from Sept. 15-18th 2023, and will be based in Napier, with courses set among the stunning rivers, parks and forests of the Hawke’s Bay region.

It will follow the same format as the Australian race, with the course open for 48 hours, and teams choosing whether to complete the full ARWS course, or a shorter ‘half’ course within that time. The race will be open to teams of 4, who must race together, navigating with map and compass through trekking, mountain biking and paddling stages, plus some other outdoor challenges.

Race Director Chris Dixon commented, “It’s always exciting putting on a new race, and this time it’s with the pedigree and history of Geoquest, in the country where adventure racing began, and in the fabulous scenery around Hawke’s Bay.

“The 48 hour race format offers teams a chance to step up from the more familiar one day and 24 hour events and to push themselves to a new level. It will be ideal training for expedition race like The Legend, but at the same time the flexible race format makes the race accessible to new teams who want a full weekend of adventure activities.

As the race is part of the ARWS Oceania regional series. teams taking part will earn points for both the Oceania and ARWS global rankings.

Hawke’s Bay, located on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, is an ideal location for the new race. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the east and the towering Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges to the west, the area offers a variety of terrain including rugged mountain trails, pristine native forest, scenic waterways and alluvial coastal plains.

Notable landmarks include Cape Kidnappers peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean, Lake Waikaremoana, where the walking track is among New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks, Te Mata Peak, with its 360-degree view of Hawke’s Bay, and five major rivers that flow from mountain ranges and hill country to the Hawke’s Bay coast.

Napier and Hastings are the two Hawke’s Bay cities, and the Mediterranean climate makes Hawke’s Bay New Zealand’s Food and Wine Country. It’s also the newest Great Wine Capital of the World, where the wide-open skies are usually blue, and the event hub in Napier city will provide a perfect location to visit for the race, and the chance of some delicious food for that post-race pick-me-up.

Hamish Saxton, Chief Executive of Hawke’s Bay Tourism commented;“We are excited to welcome GeoQuest, its competitors and support crew to Hawke’s Bay for the ARWS Oceania Series. Hawke’s Bay is home to spectacular mountain ranges and pristine native bush, making it the perfect home for an adventure race of this kind.

“Our Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges, the Mohaka River and beautiful native bush will act as an incredible backdrop for GeoQuest’s very first New Zealand race.”

You can find out all about the race at; https://www.geoquest.com.au/

The race is organised by Wild and Co. who run adventure sports competitions throughout the year (https://www.wldnco.com/) and is part of the ARWS Oceania series.