The Bike Courses

Classic

The Classic is a true backcountry adventure, taking riders deep into the spectacular Hunter Valley and Dingleburn Station. Starting at Kidds Bush, the route follows the eastern shores of Lake Hāwea, passing the Hunter Valley Homestead before heading into increasingly remote and rugged terrain.

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The next 20km take you through a mix of 4WD tracks, creek crossings, climbs and rocky descents, passing old hunting and fishing huts along the way. As you approach the head of the lake, you'll see the eerie remains of the forest submerged when Lake Hāwea was raised in 1958 — blackened tree stumps rising from the water like tombstones from another era.

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The route continues up the Hunter Valley, past Boundary Hut, before reaching the turnaround point at around the 61km mark. From here, riders cross the rocky riverbed and the Hunter River before turning south towards Hāwea on the Dingleburn Station 4WD track.

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Around 3.5km after the river crossing, you'll reach Green Bush Hut and Aid Station 1 — a welcome opportunity to dry off, refuel and prepare for the return journey. The route then continues through a mix of sharp climbs, rocky sections and longer descents before reaching Dingleburn Station.

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For one day only, competitors are granted access through the Dingleburn Station homestead and onto the Dingleburn Station Road, where Aid Station 2 awaits with the event's famous tea and scones. This will also be the battery change point for the eBike participants who choose the option to have a second battery transported by event staff to the Dingleburn aid station.

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From there, the route follows the spectacular Rocky Point bluffs, with the lake dropping away around 30 metres below and, if you know where to look, views towards Mt Aspiring to the west. After the bluffs, the terrain becomes a little more forgiving as you settle into the final gravel road section towards Timaru Creek and the last climb over Heart Break Hill.

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The final stretch back towards Lake Hāwea remains on gravel road as you ride past the Lahe Hawea Station, then changes to tarseal for the final kilometres to the finish at the Lake Hawea Community Centre. Kick back on the grass, swap stories with fellow riders, enjoy some music and celebrate a proper day in the backcountry with a well-earned cold drink, or two.

The Epic is the full-monty — the ultimate test piece of the Lake Hāwea Epic and the only course offering prize money. It is a demanding day in the backcountry that requires riders to stay switched on. The course is varied, narrow and rocky in places, with plenty of undulating terrain and fast, open 4WD sections thrown in for good measure.

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The adventure begins with a 7:30am controlled mass start from the Lake Hāwea Community Centre, heading west along SH6 for 23km. You'll pass the Lake Hāwea lookout before turning right at the neck onto Mead Road and heading towards Kidds Bush and the Hunter Valley.

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After 6km of 4WD track, the course passes through Kidds Bush Recreation Reserve, where the Epic joins the Classic course. From here, riders head deep into the Hunter Valley, following the same spectacular route through creek crossings, climbs, rocky descents and historic huts before reaching the head of Lake Hāwea and continuing towards Boundary Hut.

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At around the 61km mark, riders reach the turnaround before crossing the rocky riverbed and Hunter River and beginning the journey south towards Hāwea via Dingleburn Station. Green Bush Hut and Aid Station 1 provide a welcome opportunity to refuel and regroup before tackling more technical 4WD terrain and the route towards Dingleburn Station.

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For one day only, competitors are granted access through the Dingleburn Station homestead and onto Dingleburn Station Road, where Aid Station 2 awaits with the event's famous tea and scones. From there, the course heads along the spectacular Rocky Point bluffs, with the lake far below and views towards Mt Aspiring if you know where to look.

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The final section eases onto more open gravel roads before the last climb over Heart Break Hill and the run back towards Lake Hāwea. After a big day in the saddle, cross the finish line at the Community Centre, find a patch of grass, swap stories and enjoy a well-earned cold drink.

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The Contact Epic is also the compulsory course for Last Man Standing competitors. Riders must meet all course cut-offs to remain eligible for the Last Man Standing competition.

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