RH Around Brunner

RH Around Brunner Cycle Ride

Road and Gravel Ride

Saturday 2nd May 2026

On Saturday 2nd May 2026, Ride Holidays Around Brunner has some exciting races:

RH Around Brunner Road Race 140km

RH Around Brunner Enduro Race 280km

RH Around Brunner Gravel 108km

RH Around Brunner Road Race:

2026 will see the road race move to the same course as 2022 with the Start/Finish still being at Moana outside the Hotel Lake Brunner. The race will be from Moana to Jacksons and then on to Kumara and returning to Moana. This will be a 140km ride, this is through the most spectacular part of the rainforest with rolling hills throughout.

Both the Around Brunner 140km and Enduro 280km will be held, with the Enduro doing 2 laps of the out and back course.

The Teams event will still be held with the changeover at Kumara Domain.

When riders reach Kumara they will turn left at Greenstone Road, right at Tui Street and right again at Cashman Street before coming back out on to SH 73 opposite the Kumara Domain. Team riders will change at this point.

This Iconic West Coast event should be on everyone's bucket list and an event you just want to keep coming back too. With the start and Finish in the small township of Moana on the banks of Lake Brunner, it is an amazing setting for a bike race and to enjoy the West Coast hospitality and a cold Monteith's Beer at the finish.

RH Around Brunner Gravel Race:

This gravel race will start and finish at the same place as the road Race outside the Hotel Lake Brunner in Moana.

From the start, riders will exit Moana and head down the Arnold Valley Road to Aratika where they will head in and travel partially on the reverse of the Gold Trail Mountain Bike Race through the Nga Tahu Forestry Roads. After approximately 38km they will come out from the Cape Terrace Road on to Kumara Inchbonnie Road and head toward Inchbonnie at the 70km mark, where they will then ride the same tar seal road as the road riders until Rotomanu. Instead of turning left they will continue straight to Kotuku Ben Hill Road where they take a left and follow this to Kotuku back on to the Arnold Valley Road and return to Moana and finish outside the Hotel Lake Brunner.

This event will suit Gravel Bikes and hard tail Mountain Bikes. It is a challenging course with 1434m of elevation gain over the 108km. The Gravel race will start at 8:45am with the road race starting at 9:00am. We anticipate both events to be finishing amongst each other coming into Moana via different directions.

The first part of the gravel race between 10km and 38km will be challenging with some rough gravel, the other portions are fast gravel on shingle roads. The race is 65% Gravel and 35% Tar, this will sort many out especially early in the race.

Around Brunner is now in its 19th year and caters for all competitors from the Elite rider through to the Recreational Rider with age group categories throughout. We'll even cater for those that want to ride their e-Bike in the event, as this keeps so many riders active. Riding an e-Bike means you're non-competitive but still doing the event and eligible for spot prizes. The gravel ride will require e-bike riders to carry a spare charged battery.

History of the RH Around Brunner:

Around Brunner started as a 130km sealed circuit cycle ride taking you through some of the most stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. In 2015 the Enduro, 2 laps of the traditional ride being 260km was introduced and in 2019 the change of the start/finish to Moana Lake Brunner. With the ride now being 140km and 280km on the road and the Gravel Race of 108km introduced in 2025.

Prize giving will be at the Hotel Lake Brunner at approx. 3:30pm. This gives all riders 6 hours to complete the 130km and 10 and a half for the Enduro riders.

4 Events:

* RH Around Bunner 130km (Individual)

* RH Around Brunner Enduro 260km (Individual)

* RH Around Brunner Gravel 108km Individual)