Traversing the length of New Zealand, skiing at every snow resort, raising funds for Save the Children
After traversing the length of the Australian Alps in my Winter 2022 Alpine Odyssey journey, I looked across the Tasman to Aotearoa/NZ…
I counted up the skifields, many of which I have enjoyed over the years, and wondered about wandering to ski at each of them over one winter. Soon my good Kiwi mate Laurence Mote was onboard, a man with quite a story to tell. The real planning began.
A bottle of red wine at the Mote’s mountain house one winter night added 1000km to the journey when we decided to start at Cape Reinga, the most northerly point of the country and finish at Slope Point, the most southerly.
Amongst the spectacular volcanos and alps of Aotearoa are scattered 25 NZ snow resorts (20 on the South Island, 5 on the North) from the well-known commercial fields to the little clubfields, a unique aspect of Kiwi skiing and boarding. We plan to have a day or two enjoying the delights of each ski area.
Whilst some interconnection by ski touring and foot is planned, a major chunk of the 4000km will be on our Kona Unit X mountain bikes, towing Quest trailers with ski/camp gear onboard. It will be a tough winter trip for sure!
Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa will take some 90 days, starting late June 2025.
Once again partnering with Save the Children, our journey will raise funds for climate adaptation and resilience projects in the South Pacific, our island nation neighbours who are right on the frontline of climate change.
Challenge & resilience
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Traversing one of the most spectacular countries on earth
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Māori culture, connection & language
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Human powered by bike, ski & foot
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A low emission journey
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Laurence's life changing accident & recovery
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Fundraising & awareness raising for our Pacific neighbours & the very real challenges they face from climate change
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Celebrating NZ skiing & snow sports
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Celebrating mountain life & bike life
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Enjoying sections of the Nga Haeranga/NZ Cycle Trail network & Tour Aotearoa bikepacking route
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After Alpine Odyssey Australia comes Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa
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Documenting the journey in words, images & film
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Sailing a yacht between the North Island & the South Island
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Trying the sport of curling
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Having a bloody good adventure!
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Challenge & resilience 〰️ Traversing one of the most spectacular countries on earth 〰️ Māori culture, connection & language 〰️ Human powered by bike, ski & foot 〰️ A low emission journey 〰️ Laurence's life changing accident & recovery 〰️ Fundraising & awareness raising for our Pacific neighbours & the very real challenges they face from climate change 〰️ Celebrating NZ skiing & snow sports 〰️ Celebrating mountain life & bike life 〰️ Enjoying sections of the Nga Haeranga/NZ Cycle Trail network & Tour Aotearoa bikepacking route 〰️ After Alpine Odyssey Australia comes Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa 〰️ Documenting the journey in words, images & film 〰️ Sailing a yacht between the North Island & the South Island 〰️ Trying the sport of curling 〰️ Having a bloody good adventure! 〰️
Laurence Mote
On Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa, I'll be accompanied by my good Kiwi mate Laurence Mote.
Laurence, a man hugely proud of his Māori heritage, is actually legally blind after an anaphylactic shock from a bee sting 10 years ago that nearly killed him. After going into cardiac arrest and coming out of a coma unable to walk, talk or see, Laurence, through immense drive, strength and family support, brought himself back. He is still twice the skier and rider I am!
Perhaps this has something to do with genetics - both he and his sister rode mountain bikes for New Zealand, and his niece returned from the 2024 Paris Olympics with two gold and a silver medal in track cycling.
For Laurence, our journey will be another step on the road, the longest expedition he has undertaken.
We have done numerous trips together in the NZ mountains and no doubt I’ll be trying to keep up with him as usual!
