11 October 2025
COURSES
The Century Grind | 160km
A century ride is usually the term used to describe a road route of 100 miles or 100 kilometres. Well, this one ticks both boxes. Ride all our spectacular gravel roads to create a spider-style route. Don’t be fooled by the lack of big hills – this ride will eat you little by little with some surprises along the way. Make sure you save some legs for the last leg- word is out she’s the hilliest of the route.
160 kms (100 miles) | 1900m Vert
78% gravel | 22% paved | 100% stunning
Over 20 creek crossings | Spring winds likely
2 Aid Stations, twice each
Kinloch | KM 25 & 50
Paradise | KM 93 & 114
Aid stations will have water, some nutrition
Water available on Aid stations. You will cross many creeks where locals drink water from. Use your own judgement.
Timings:
Registration:
Friday 11th Oct
- Glenorchy Golf Club – 5pm-8pm
- Queenstown Events Centre, Frankton – 6pm – 8pm
Event day:
07:30am Riders gather at the start line, waterfront
07:45am Race briefing
08:00am Start time
Cut-off times:
Kinlock Aid Station return 50km | 11:00am
Paradise Aid Station return 114km | 3:00pm
Finish Line 6:00pm | Total riding time allowed 10 hours
The KIWI PARK Twin Rivers Ride | 86km
KIWI PARK is proud to introduce the Twin Rivers Ride, perfect for those not committed to the full grind of 160km, but still want a solid and rewarding day out. This route takes you out of Glenorchy straight into the Paradise road, one of the most scenic gravel roads in the country(Isengard, for those Lord of The Rings fans), following the stunning Dart River up the valley through beautiful beech forest and farmland. Turn around at Chinamans bluff, ride all the way back and up the Rees Valley road, following the Rees River for some spectacular views – and climbs, before turning around and back to Glenorchy. Heard of the Rees-Dart hiking circuit? This is the biking version of it! Get amongst it!
86 kms | 1000m Vert
79% gravel | 21% paved | 100% stunning
Creek crossings | Spring winds | Raw beauty
1 Aid Station, twice
Paradise | KM 19 & 39
Aid stations will have water, some nutrition
Water available on Aid stations. You will cross many creeks where locals drink water from. Use your own judgement.
Timings:
Registration:
- Glenorchy Golf Club – 5pm-8pm
- Queenstown Events Centre, Frankton – 6pm – 8pm
Event day:
8:30am Riders gather at the start line, waterfront
08:45am Race briefing
09:00am Start time
Cut-off times:
Paradise Aid Station return 39 km | 1:00pm
Finish Line 4:00pm | Total riding time allowed 7 hours
The Paradise Dash | 57km | Regular and E-bikes categories
We all heard about the Road to Paradise, but did they ever tell you it’s a gravel road? Of course it had to be, it’s paradise after all! Most locals would argue this is our most scenic gravel road so you are in for a treat. This is a family friendly easy ride option if you are not in for the suffering. Ride through farmland, beech forest, surrounded by the Southern Alps. How many mountains can you name? Go on.
A family friendly scenic ride, perfect if you are supporting someone riding the big event. E-bikes category available!
Native forest, mountains, great views of Diamond Lake
1 Aid Station
Paradise – 18km
Aid station will have water, some nutrition
Timings:
Registration:
Friday 11th
- Glenorchy Golf Club – 5pm-8pm
- Queenstown Events Centre, Frankton – 6pm – 8pm
Saturday: 8:45am
Event day:
09:00am Registration Closes
09:30am Riders gather at the start line, waterfront
09:45am Race briefing
10:00am Start time
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Come and help our community event, we have a variety of tasks and roles that need some hands on!
EVENT SCHEDULE
9th October – Entries Close – Last day to sign up!
11th October – Friday
17:00 Registration Open, Glenorchy Golf Course
17:00 Registration Open, Queenstown Event Centre
20:00 Registration Close – Glenorchy & Queenstown
12th October – Saturday, MARSH GLENORCHY GRAVEL GRIND RACE DAY!
07:30 CENTURY GRIND athletes gather at start line
07:45 CENTURY GRIND final briefing, start line
08:00 CENTURY GRIND START!
08:30 KIWI PARK TWIN RIVERS RIDE gather start at line
08:45 KIWI PARK TWIN RIVERS RIDE final briefing, start line
09:00 KIWI PARK TWIN RIVERS RIDE START!
09:30 PARADISE DASH athletes gather at start line
09:45 PARADISE DASH final briefing, start line
10:00 PARADISE DASH START!
11:30 PARADISE DASH First riders expected to finish
12:00 KIWI PARK TWIN RIVERS First riders expected to finish
13:00 CENTURY GRIND First riders expected to finish
15:00 – 17:00 PRIZE GIVING – Exact times to be confirmed based on race day conditions
18:00 LAST RIDERS HOME – Final cut off time!
SIGN UP BELOW FOR RACE UPDATES
INFORMATION ABOUT GLENORCHY
Just a 45-minute drive away from Queenstown, Glenorchy is situated on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu and serves as the entry point to hiking trails and the enchanting world of Middle-earth™.
Our small town provides a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, boasting a genuine paradise. Set against a backdrop of native beech forest and towering mountain ranges, the surroundings of Glenorchy are truly mesmerising. Lake Wakatipu and the Dart River provide chances for jet boating and kayaking, while some of the finest hiking trails in New Zealand are easily accessible from Glenorchy
The magnificent landscapes of Glenorchy have transformed it into a sought-after filming location, representing numerous scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy and making appearances in the Narnia film series. Just twenty kilometers away from Glenorchy, as pastoral farmlands give way to beech forests, you’ll discover Paradise. Some say its name originates from its natural allure, while others attribute it to the paradise ducks inhabiting the area. The exact origin of its name remains uncertain, yet everyone agrees on its absolutely breathtaking beauty. “This is the Middle-earth™ I had always envisioned,” commented Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) about Paradise.
Being home to approximately 500 residents, Glenorchy extends a warm and vibrant welcome, renowned for its distinctive Southern kiwi hospitality. A variety of lodging options, cafes, eateries, and bars add to its charm. Acquiring hiking provisions in nearby Queenstown is a prudent choice.
Need a place to stay? Activities for the family? Check our page below with plenty of options and useful links!
WITHDRAWAL, CANCELLATION AND RACE RULES
By entering any of the “Glenorchy Gravel Grind 2024” events you must read and agree with the Withdrawal, cancellation and race rules for the event. You can find them on the page below:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If yours is not here yet please contact us 🙂
What bike can I use? Do I need a Gravel Bike?
Both events cover a bit of sealed road and the rest is all on gravel roads, with no single tracks. You don’t need a gravel bike. If you have a gravel bike, great! If not, any mountain bike will do just fine. If you only have a road bike, you are in for a true adventure, we recommend you have previous experience riding your road bike on gravel roads.
