Product Description
Challenge by name, challenge by design. Challenge Wanaka is New Zealand’s premier South Island race and is always ranked the top 5 most picturesque triathlons on the international calendar. Our 15 Day Tour is an absolute show-stopper designed to have you experiencing firsthand the remarkable landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. Whether it’s alps or ocean, breathtaking glacial lakes, ancient green rainforest or golden sand beaches, New Zealand’s South Island boasts unrivalled diversity. Come and explore the absolute best of this wonderful destination on the way to the hugely popular Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival.
Ute Simon-Adorf (verified owner) – :
Our amazing trip across New Zealand with TriAdventures
For me a big wish came true that I could visit New Zealand again after 10 years. I did it with my partner Christof who also was very excited to discover New Zealand.
Our plan was to participate in two 70.3 (half Ironman) competitions, Challenge Wanaka in the South Island, which was on my 55th birthday and Ironman New Zealand the North Island at Lake Taupo . We wanted to combine these two competitions with a trip around New Zealand. So we needed to overcome the logistical problems of how to travel around New Zealand with our bikes, driving on the lefthand side of the road and booking accommodation in different parts of New Zealand.
TriAdventuresNZ offered a solution. I read on the website of Challenge Wanaka that TriAdventuresNZ has guided tours of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand that include either Challenge Wanaka or Ironman New Zealand, while offering the ability to train for the triathlon races. I couldn’t believe that our plan will come true, we opted to do both tours.
I started to contact them and then our email traffic began. It was a very good feeling because every question was answered quickly and they helped us a lot with our booking.
When we arrived in Christchurch international airport after a very long flight from Germany Dan and Mark greeted us at the airport and upon meeting them it felt like that we had known each other for years.
Both Christof and I throughly enjoyed the whole trip, which lasted nearly five weeks. Dan and Mark showed us so many parts of both islands, that a normal tourist wouldn’t have the opportunity to see. They told us so much about the wonderful country and you could really feel how they love the land where both were born.
For us it was wonderful to have such amazing guides. They knew everything about the land, they showed us wonderful locations where we could swim, bike and run to prepare for the races. They expertly transported our bikes in a custom built trailer and when we swam in open water one guide played the role of life guard on a paddle board to ensure our safety. After each training session there was a recovery drink prepared and we were also able to enjoy amazing New Zealand food with barbecues and picnics prepared by Dan and Mark. So all of our needs were catered to.
The accommodations were clean and comfortable and the beach and lakeside destinations had amazing views, the long drives in the car were relaxed because both guides were professional and careful drivers.
When we raced at Challenge Wanaka and Ironman New Zealand our guides were there for the whole check in process, they gave us a detailed course familiarisation tour and were also there to cheer us on and make us feel at home in New Zealand, and finally, welcomed us at the finish line after party with a big pizza and delicious New Zealand beer.
So all in all we really could recommend this tour with these guides. We would do it again. It was a wonderful combination of sightseeing and sport. Thanks guys for the wonderful time we had in New Zealand.
Ute and Christof from Germany