Spring Challenge North is bringing its super-popular, all-women's adventure race to Lake Taupo in October, promising to be the ultimate ladies day out - in the wilderness.
After sell-out success for more than a decade in the South Island, Spring Challenge organisers Nathan Fa'avae and his wife Jodie are holding their annual, multi-discipline, all-abilities event for the third time in the North Island.
Fa'avae said Taupo would host "an adventure you won't forget".
"We started with Rotorua in 2016, then Auckland last year and now we are excited to be based out of Taupo.
"Spring Challenge North is committed to bringing you quality adventures in amazing locations. We have an excellent course planned for October 27 featuring mind-blowing scenery, off the beaten track locations and a special mix of adventure and culture."
Spring Challenge is an adventure race for women which began in New Zealand in 2007.
It involves teams of three women competing in a race, which features three or more sporting disciplines, often running/hiking, mountain biking, rafting (or kayaking), plus elements of navigation and orienteering.
Teams do the entire course together, travelling through the stages as a unit - meaning it is not a relay where different team mates do different stages.
"While it is a race, a lot of teams are first-timers or new to this challenge and use the opportunity to enjoy the adventure on the day and all the fun training missions that precede it.
"Rather than going flat out for the podium places, many teams are just happy to be out there in the outdoors and to cross the finish line," Jodie Fa'avae said.
This year, for the first time, the Spring Challenge North Island event is open to four-person teams.
Adventure racer Dan Moore is the course designer for Spring Challenge North – Great Lake Taupo. He said Taupo offered a diverse environment.
"Lakes, rivers, forests, bush and both public and private land gave us a range of course-planning opportunities. The region boasts a number of options for white water rafting, with a raft guide, mountain biking and trekking and also, as always, some great areas for navigation."
Taupo's position in the centre of the North Island also added to its appeal, Moore said.
"The region has long been seen as a mecca for adventure activities in the North Island.
"The course will involve guided white water rafting on a great scenic section of local river, some interesting trekking and mountain biking and as always navigation that will challenge some teams but reward those who have put work into this element. There will be route choice at times, which will allow teams to strategise and potentially pick up placings and time through being cunning."
Spring Challenge North – Great Lake Taupo is limited to 250 teams and the categories are School (3-hour), 3-hour, 6-hour and 9-hour.
There is also a Corporate Challenge for businesses to enter co-workers.
The West Coast town of Westport will also be hosting the 12th Spring Challenge South on September 29.
Enter online at www.springchallenge.co.nz