EVENT INFORMATION - 2025
Dunedin Orienteering and Central Otago Orienteers welcome mountain bikers and orienteers to the NZ MTB Orienteering Champs in Central Otago on 1st, 2nd & 3rd Feb 2025.
This promises to be a fantastic 3 days of competition, challenge, and fun for Mountain Bikers, Orienteers, and Adventure Racers of all abilities in one of NZs best MTBO areas. Events include:
Saturday 1st Feb
The championship events will attract experienced and competitive mountain bike orienteers, however there will also be recreational courses for people newer to the sport or who don't wish to compete at full pace. E-Bikes are welcome in the recreational grades (but not championship grades), and here will be also be a course set to cater for juniors below 10.
The information on the website gives preliminary information useful to know ahead of the NZ Champs happening. More detailed information will be provided in due course, including a detailed bulletin (which can be downloaded and printed) at least 1 week prior to the event.
Check in to this website to stay up to date with other information, including entries opening , entry lists going up, and any changes to plans that may happen prior to or during the event.
This promises to be a fantastic 3 days of competition, challenge, and fun for Mountain Bikers, Orienteers, and Adventure Racers of all abilities in one of NZs best MTBO areas. Events include:
Saturday 1st Feb
- Sprint distance champs - Alexandra
- Middle distance champs - Matangi station
- Social dinner - Alexandra
- Long distance champs - Naseby
- Rogaine (2hr non championship event) - Naseby
The championship events will attract experienced and competitive mountain bike orienteers, however there will also be recreational courses for people newer to the sport or who don't wish to compete at full pace. E-Bikes are welcome in the recreational grades (but not championship grades), and here will be also be a course set to cater for juniors below 10.
The information on the website gives preliminary information useful to know ahead of the NZ Champs happening. More detailed information will be provided in due course, including a detailed bulletin (which can be downloaded and printed) at least 1 week prior to the event.
Check in to this website to stay up to date with other information, including entries opening , entry lists going up, and any changes to plans that may happen prior to or during the event.
COURSES & GRADES
The NZ MTBO Champs includes 3 events:
The MTBO Rogaine is a non-championship event that lasts 2 hours
- Sprint distance - a fast, short event with about a 22 min winning time
- Middle distance - a medium distance event with a winning time between 45-60 min
- Long distance - a longer distance event with a winning time between a 70-110 min
The MTBO Rogaine is a non-championship event that lasts 2 hours
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Championship Grades
There are men's (M) and women's (W) categories in each age grade. These get allocated to one of seven courses in each of the Sprint, Middle, and Long.
Specific distance/winning times varies across grades and courses (see adjacent table). The NZ Championships is contested in the Open and Age grades. Anyone can enter the Open grades, however age grades are open to people as follows:
To calculate your age grade, base it on your age as at 31 Dec 2025. |
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Recreational Grades
Recreational classes are not championship events, and are open to anyone of any age, who may wish to participate in a less competitive environment. Recreational grades are also open to families, or people who may wish to ride with someone else in a pair or team.
E-bikes are permitted in the recreational classes. When entering, please suffix your name with "ebike", so that organisers and fellow competitors are aware of those completing the course on E bikes.
There will be 3 options available for the recreational grades. All recreational grades will be mixed gender:
Recreational classes are not championship events, and are open to anyone of any age, who may wish to participate in a less competitive environment. Recreational grades are also open to families, or people who may wish to ride with someone else in a pair or team.
E-bikes are permitted in the recreational classes. When entering, please suffix your name with "ebike", so that organisers and fellow competitors are aware of those completing the course on E bikes.
There will be 3 options available for the recreational grades. All recreational grades will be mixed gender:
- Rec Medium. Competitors will ride the M50 course (designed for competitive 50+ aged men).
- Rec Short. Competitors will ride the W60 course (designed for competitive 60+ aged women).
- Rec Easy. Specifically designed for competitors aged 10 and under.
KEY PEOPLE & CONTACT
- Event Organisers - Joe Sherriff & Bill Roxburgh
- Middle Setter/Controller – Joe Sherriff/Emily & Chris Forne
- Sprint Setter/Controller – Fraser Stevens /Jojo Wilson
- Long Setter/Controller – Conal Boland Bristow/Tim Sikma
- Event Advisor - Alister Metherell
Contact
- Please direct all enquiries to: [email protected]
EMBARGOED AREAS
The following embargo conditions apply to venues being used for the NZ Champs:
- Sprint Distance:
Boot Hill, Molyneux Park, the surrounding pine forest and associated schools.
- Middle Distance:
In terrain use of the Matangi or Linger and Die MTBO maps prior to the championships.
You must not ride any of the Matangi MTB park tracks on Thursday 30th January, Friday 31st January or the morning of Saturday 1st February. - Long Distance:
In terrain use of the Naseby MTBO or Naseby Recreational area trail maps prior to the championships.
You must not ride any of the Naseby Recreational area tracks from Thursday 30th January till the event
EVENT LOCATIONS
GETTING THERE
Drive to Alexandra:
Drive to Alexandra:
- From Queenstown airport 1hr 10 mins
- From Christchurch 5.5hours
- From Invercargill 2.5 hours
- From Dunedin 3 hours 15mins
- From Queenstown to Alexandra, stops in Cromwell - 3hours
- Nearest airport is Queenstown
ACCOMMODATION
Alexandra and the surrounding area has a wide range of accommodation. The event is at the height of both the holiday and fruit picking season so it will pay to book well in advance