Taking in around 1100km of the deep south, the Tuatara departs from Invercargill offering an alternative way of racing through the Southland countryside. Starting on the last Saturday in February, you can expect a healthy challenge, plenty of small towns and lots of rugged coastline.
The Route
The route was created with the following in mind, Is there a gravel option? take it, Can we visit the coast? go on, Can we avoid the main road? Please, If we go down this dead end road, will it be worth it? For sure.
Therefore the course visits the coast line often, passing through rolling farmland and sub alpine tussock country. The Tuatara ensures you will be challenged and delighted at what the deep south has to offer. At times there are large distances between supply points with not many people around – that just happens to be the way things work down here.
Dates
Starting on the last weekend in February 2021, the Tuatara sets off from the Band rotunda in the center of Queens Park Invercargill. The route is intended to be completed within 8.5 days following the standard Great Kiwi Gravel event guidelines. If this event is a success, we will plan to host it every second year.
Our weather will keep you on your toes, (if you can feel them). Don’t be fooled by the dates into thinking it is still Summer, there isn’t much between Antarctica and the route.