WELCOME to your ultimate MTB challenge for endurance athletes and people with a sense of adventure

The Contact Epic is about the challenge of circumnavigating the shores of Lake Hawea which is located on the edge of Wanaka in the South Island of New Zealand. The ride is a 125 km journey of discovery about the land, about your bike and about yourself.

It is a once a year opportunity to be part of a race and a great day out riding through the Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country farming stations of Lake Hawea. This is only achieved through special permission from the land owners. The course is undulating and varied with river and stream crossings, lots of short climbs and long descents. There is also a 95km option for those not ready to take on the whole lake, this time.

This is the country’s longest circumnavigation of a lake and is the mountain bikers equivalent of the Lake Taupo road biking challenge. However, this is more of an adventure than a race. Those that are super fit and want to race hard will be tested over this terrain. Those who see this as a major personal challenge will be able to pace themselves and enjoy the history, scenery and wilderness of this remote area.

The distance is doable by anyone who applies themselves. Our oldest past competitor being 73 yrs and youngest being 16 yrs, so if you would like to able to say you are a finisher of NZ ultimate MTB challenge and to test your self regardless of level of rider then this event is for you.

The course will not be littered with signage and support people, it will be left as untouched as possible to allow you to enjoy this environment in its natural state. With this comes some personal responsibility, which is a big part of the event ethos. We are taking the bubble-wrapping away and letting you take on this event knowing that you will need motivation, common sense and tenacity to get to the finish line.

We believe that when good people are actively engaged in considering and planning their own adventure and safety, they will make the best decisions to suit their own circumstances and ability.

To that end there will be no official bike checks, no compulsory gear list, no cotton wool and no excuses, just you taking on this challenge on your own terms.

See you at the finish line.

What people are really saying about this race?

A must do, well organised and fantastic
Dougie Hall

Awesome, interesting, rugged, challenging ,through beautiful country
Steve Maluschnig

Toughest day you have ever had, but one of the best - stunning scenery, excellent riding and a real feeling of achievement at the end
Jonathan Gadd

An adventure. The kind of day you never forget. Challenging and fun
Paul Millet

This is a Must Do Ride - Great Challenge that has something for everyone, from racing, doing a PB, to just completing. A very well organised event, lots of fun!
Glenn Randle

An amazing sense of achievement, a very challenging and difficult course, with the some of the most awesome scenery. A must!
Kirsty Hewitt

Challenging, long, hard, hilly, rocky, beautiful, awesome, well run, addictive
Richelle Adams

LMS Events

We are an events company operating out of beautiful Wanaka, on the door step of the Mt Aspiring National Park and Southern Alps. Click here for more information about us.