A memorable and unique sporting playground
The panoramic oasis brims with the region's spectacular beauty, wide-open spaces, biodiverse fauna, and flora plus sunny skies. It lends itself to a sun-seeking, sporting outdoors backdrop with its two lakes, ice-age carved valleys and snow-capped mountains. The resort town of Wanaka is where numerous outdoor adventures imaginable to your heart's content are available, along with a beautiful climate, the weather conducive to cycling outdoors, gorgeous scenery, and safe places for cycling.
The region's gem is its highest point, Mount Aspiring at 3,000m, rising out of the country's largest national park and mirrored in the crystal-clear blue waters of Lake Wanaka, New Zealand's fourth-largest lake at its foot. In this pristine and unspoiled wilderness, one can respond to the call of the wild and the region's natural attributes.
One can participate in numerous all-year-round outdoor activities, including snow skiing, snowboarding, hiking, sailing, scuba-diving, kayaking, fishing, cycling, rock-climbing, sky-diving and swimming in the immense lakes. One can equate Lake Wanaka and the surrounding area to the painting, with rolling green mountains and glaciers as its ornate frame.
Wanaka also hosts special world-class events and festivals. One of these is called the Wanaka Challenge. This event is a bucket-list race consisting of a middle-distance triathlon or aquabike set against the backdrop of this magnificent World Heritage Area in the Southern Alps, which links Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, and Glendhu Bay.
Challenge Wanaka is on many a triathlete's bucket list of races to conquer because of the beautiful and unique backdrop and the challenging course on an undulating profile. It is an event for all ages and abilities and a great way to introduce young people to the sport.
Watch the Wanaka Challenge promo video
About the course
The bike course of 120 km (20 km, 40 km and 90 km on ROUVY), following the swim leg, leaves the transition area at Glendhu Bay Station, taking riders through Wanaka township towards Lake Hawea and then back to the Red Bridge Luggate. With its undulating profile, the cycle course heads out to Tarras, where riders turn around and return to Luggate. They then cycle past the airport, onto Mount Barker Road, down McDougall Street, and back into Wanaka and Glendhu Bay Station.
Challenge Wanaka is the race of a lifetime and the perfect opportunity to compete and take a holiday in a paradise setting in the middle of nature. Enjoy the chance of riding this extraordinary race in a magnificent location and natural backdrop right from your living room and test yourself on this beautiful course on ROUVY.
