The organisers of a Tauranga cycle adventure say it was so successful they are looking forward to increasing the fun value for an even bigger and better 2024 event.

More than 200 cyclists took on the Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise club's Great K Valley Cycle Adventure in Kopurererua Valley on Sunday.

'The Great Kopurererua Valley Cycle Adventure definitely hit the spot for around two hundred competitors on Sunday,” says Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise club member and event co-organiser Michele Beaton.

The Great K Valley Cycle Adventure is run similar to a scavenger hunt, with a map, where participants have to find clues around either the 10km or 25km courses.

'The clues related mostly to the valley's history, its biodiversity and the value of the wetland in mitigating effects of the climate crisis,” says Michele.

'Competitors, provided with maps and crossword clues, had to cycle the course to find the answers, discovering the valley as they went and joining in games involving things like catching water bombs and standing whole teams on sheets of folded newspaper.”

She says 53 teams entered, with around two thirds of them completing the 10km course and the rest taking on the 25km course.

'And it's down to the hard-working, fun team who made this possible, not only as a fund-raiser but also as an opportunity to promote the cultural and environmental value of this amazing space.”

Emily, Delta, Jeremiah, Ruben, Ruby and Hazel Hayward enjoying The Great K Valley Cycle Adventure. Photo: Supplied.

Sponsors of the event included Ingham Mora, Hobec, GHD, PakNSave Cameron Road who provided generous supplies of snacks and bananas, My Ride (Koops), and NZ Windows which provided the barbecue.

A spot prize of a bike, worth near $600 came from MyRide Tauranga. This was won by Erin Burningham.

'We bought first, second, and third gift voucher prizes for the 10km short course and first and second for the 25km long course.”

The 25km course was won by IDKs 2 with second prize won by the Hobec team. The 10km winner was The Mine Hunters, with second prize going to Brodie-Smiths and third prize to Kids off Screens.

'The scavenger hunt is environmentally-focused, takes entrants to areas that are usually unexplored, and highlights what an asset the valley is to the community,” says Michele who is also the club's environment committee director.

A team discussing adventure clues with Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise member Wayne Shadbolt in Kopurererua Valley Reserve. Photo: Supplied.

The Kopurererua Valley Reserve is packed with history, bird life, and great cycling and walking trails. The Great K Valley Cycle Adventure is a fun way to get friends and family together to enjoy a fun few hours there while finding the puzzle clues within the valley.

Funds raised from the event will go to the Graeme Dingle Foundation which supports children in many ways, including the school-facilitated Kiwi Can programme.

Michele says the valley is the biggest wetland restoration in New Zealand and is home to a wide range of species.

'Wetlands are amazing. They suck up greenhouse gasses, are somewhere for excess flood waters to go, and are a real hidden gem that many people don't even realise are there.”

Puketoromiro Pa, in the Kopurererua Valley Reserve. Photo: Supplied.

The combined Rotary Clubs of Tauranga have been assisting Tauranga City Council with regeneration of the valley since the millennium, with annual planting, rat trapping and fundraising efforts.

Highlighting the long Māori history of the area, Michele says: 'It's important for people to know that Ngāi Tamarāwaho is mana whenua of Kopurererua Valley”.

'They've done a lot of work in partnership with the council in the valley and with its river, and also in raising awareness of Puketoromiro Pā located towards the southern end of the valley.”

Previous Great K Valley Cycle Adventures have seen up to 250 cyclists take part with usually at least 50 teams involved.

'Teams can be made up of any number of people – this is for fun, and for health,” says Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise events committee director Rhonda Wisbey.

'Whether you created and placed invaluable signage, promoted the event or provided amazing contacts, erected the gazebo before most people were up on Sunday, placed clues, cruised the valley as a roving supporter, organised activities like ‘how small a piece of newspaper can you stand your whole team on?' and more, it was hugely appreciated as the feedback testifies.”

Feedback on the event included 'Thanks so much, fabulous event and a great atmosphere created in no small part by the excellent volunteers. Ka pai!” from Nic.

Simon left the message: 'Hi Guys, Just while it is in my head, absolutely loved the event today - we had a blast and my daughter and her friends really enjoyed doing it together in the same team. Be awesome to see this event back next year.”

There were more than 20 teams registered by a few days ahead of the event.

'But that doubled in the last two or three days if you include around ten who registered on the day. Down to the extensive media publicity in that last week, I think.”

'I think the vibe of the event said it all. We have to be back in 2024 with a fine-tuned, bigger and even more fun repeat.”