Tauranga locals are being encouraged to dress up in costume and explore by bike or on foot through one of the city’s most treasured natural spaces as part of the Great K Valley Cycle Adventure this month.
The event is on Sunday, March 29, from 10am to 2pm at the Kōpūrererua Valley Reserve, with teams meeting near the Tauranga Skate Park at the 17th Ave entrance.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise, the Great K Valley Cycle Adventure is a family-friendly scavenger hunt on wheels or foot designed for friends, families and workmates.
Clues, puzzles, games
Participants will follow clues and navigate a course through the valley while tackling puzzles, playing games and completing quirky challenges along the way. Teams can bike, walk or run sections of the course, making the event accessible for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
Entry costs $45 per team, with teams made up of one to six people.
Teams score points on the Great K Valley Cycle Adventure by completing challenges, following a map and solving puzzles. Photo / Simon Beaton
Organiser Michele Beaton said the event was designed to showcase the valley while bringing the community together.
“The event is organised by our Rotary club’s environment group and is aimed at raising awareness of the historical, ecological and recreational value of this amazing reserve,” Beaton said.
Often referred to locally as K Valley, Kōpūrererua Valley is New Zealand’s largest urban wetland reserve and sits in the heart of the city between Bethlehem, Ōtūmoetai, Greerton, Tauriko and Gate Pā. The valley is known for its walking and cycling trails, rich wildlife and cultural significance to Ngāi Tamarāwaho.
Kōpūrererua Valley Reserve. Photo / Tauranga City Council
The adventure, now in its fifth year, includes longer and shorter courses, with competitors using a map to find clues and complete challenges across the valley.
Long and short courses
“It’s not a mini Tour de France,” Beaton said. “It attracts families as well as groups of friends or workmates. It’s about having fun and exploring this incredible reserve.”
Teams are encouraged to get creative, with prizes for costumes and points awarded for completing activities throughout the course. Spot prizes will also be given away during the day, including a children’s bike voucher donated by sponsors.
Participants in the 2024 Great K Valley Cycle Adventure's challenges included finding and getting a selfie with "Swampy", and (for extra points) guessing which well-known Tauranga entity was inside the camouflage ghillie suit.
Participants will also need to keep an eye out for the elusive “Swampie”, the valley’s mysterious swamp monster. Extra points will be awarded to teams who correctly guess the creature’s identity. In 2024, former Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless surprised participants when he revealed he had been hiding in the valley wearing a ghillie suit as Swampie. Prizegiving will be at 2pm.
Project K
All profits from the event will go to the Graeme Dingle Foundation to support its Project K programme, which works with Year 10 students at four Tauranga schools to build confidence, resilience and life skills.
Puketoromiro Pā stands towards the southern end of the Kōpūrererua Valley. Photo / Tauranga City Council
The Great K Valley Cycle Adventure began in 2018 and regularly attracts dozens of teams. More than 200 cyclists took part in 2023, while more than 40 teams competed in 2024. Last year’s event was cancelled because of poor weather.
“The event is not only fun but also an opportunity to learn about the historical, ecological and recreational importance of Kōpūrererua Valley,” Beaton said.
If weather conditions are unsuitable, a rain date has been scheduled for Sunday, April 12.
Teams can register online, with organisers encouraging participants to bring their bikes, water bottles, snacks and plenty of enthusiasm for what promises to be a lively community adventure.