Polite Media Notification: Dunc’s Big Bike Ride back in Auckland, preparations for final Northland leg underway!

Charity circumnavigation of New Zealand completes Auckland to Wellington, Picton to Picton and Wellington to Auckland legs. Just Auckland - Auckland left to see historic cycle ride complete

He left Auckland’s Mission Bay on the 2nd January on a bike, with the aim of riding the coastlines of New Zealand’s main islands and raising $10,000 for St John. Now, 200 days later, Dunc Wilson has returned to the city, having cycled the long way round in what’s believed to be the fullest ever bicycle circumnavigation of the country.

Key points/why this matters:

• Bike and luggage pedalled from Auckland to Stewart Island and back

• Ride is raising funds for St John New Zealand

• Over 8,000km ridden so far, just Northland left to ride

• A first for NZ - cycle experts confirm

“I crossed the Waikato-Auckland border near Tuakau last Wednesday,” says Dunc “It was spitting at the time and I had to ride to the northern tip of the Awhitu peninsula. By the time I arrived there, around 6pm, the weather had turned and I was utterly soaked through. Welcome back!”

Following a dangerous crash last month on Marlborough’s Queen Charlotte Track, the rider took some time out with relatives in Wellington to recover and prepare for the next northward leg. Dunc set off on the 1st July to ride the Wellington, Manawatu, Whanganui, Taranaki and Waikato coasts.

Wellington to Auckland complete!See the full route at maps.duncwilson.co.nz

“I had a 12-day plan in my head when I left the capital,” explains Dunc. “I believed that without taking any days off, I could return to the Supercity region in that time.”

That plan was thwarted slightly by the period’s extremely high tides and recent floods in Manawatu-Whanganui area, meaning beach riding was restricted, difficult and inland roads often had to be taken.

“I ended up on recently created islands in the middle of streams, having to dodge forest-loads of driftwood and altering my route on-the-fly when sections were found to still be flooded, but we made it!”

All up, the return leg to Auckland took Dunc 13 days of riding (dodging, ducking, wading, shivering and walking) and that still afforded plenty of time to explore places like Whanganui, New Plymouth and Raglan.

River crossing at Cape Egmont

“Once again, Kiwi accommodation providers and other businesspeople have been hugely supportive of my quest and have pulled out all the stops to help me along. Most communities rely on St John to a large degree, so the support for what I am doing just comes naturally,” explains Dunc.

“That said, we could do with a few more donations! We’ve just about passed enough to buy a single defibrillator. I’ve cycled 8,000km and we’ve bought a defibrillator. Good news for the person who needs it, but I rather wanted to get two. Can you spare $7?”

It is believed that Dunc’s Big Bike Ride is the first time New Zealand has been fully circumnavigated by pushbike and this position was strengthened last month following a message from Wellington-based cycle authors, publishers and advocates the Kennett brothers.

They wrote: “As far as we know, you are the first to stick to the coast to suck a detailed degree. Many cycle tourers don't publicise what they do, so we just don't know exactly what has been done over the last century. We suspect that your route is by far the one that has stuck to the coast the most. What an incredible journey! Good luck completing it!”

The bike is now with Bike Barn for service and repairs, before the final leg through Northland and round Cape Reinga begins sometime this week. Dunc expects he will finish mid to late August.

“I’ve visited some incredible places on this journey, but Northland has long been my favourite region. I’ve always wanted to go in winter and see what it’s like and now I’ll get that chance!”

Donate: givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/seawaynz Like: facebook.com/seawaynz Track: maps.duncwilson.co.nz Hashtag: #SeawayNZ