Spring Challenge Whakatāne

Welcome to the Spring Challenge
nau mai ki te wero o te koanga
All Women’s Adventure Race
The event is one of the gems of New Zealand adventure racing, where up to 480-teams of 3-women take part in a thrilling adventure that includes rafting / kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and navigation.
The event was the vision and creation of 7 x Adventure Racing World Champion, and winner of Eco Challenge ‘The World’s Toughest Race’ - Nathan Fa'avae (ONZM)
In 2023 he was honoured as an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Adventure Racing.
The fact you're on this page and reading this, then you can do it. It's that simple! Welcome.

The Spring Challenge is an adventure race for women which began in New Zealand in 2007. It is a team event where 3-women do the entire course together, traveling through the stages as a unit - meaning - it is not a relay team where different team mates do different stages, in adventure racing, the whole team does everything.

Because navigation is a factor, each year the event has a brand new course in a different location, so even for the regular participants, it's always refreshed and exciting, plus there's not a big advantage over teams who are new comers to the sport.

The first step of doing an adventure race is having an appetite for adventure and a desire to embark on a challenge. There are 3-main options for the event, 3, 6 and 9-hour options, plus categories within. Decide what suits your ability and taste best, then build a team of 3-women with a shared goal and ideally, similar ability.

Check the gear list and make sure you have or can source to equipment required for the event. You also need a support crew, 1-2 people who can drive a vehicle around the course area meeting you at various points to resupply and change equipment - but this depends on the course design and location, some years the event is 'self-supported', where you don't require a support crew.