Introducing the Highlander MTB Challenge.
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If you’re preparing for the Whaka100, there is no better way to test your legs, sharpen your race fitness, and ride some of Rotorua’s best trails than the Highlander MTB Challenge by Whaka100. Taking place on 31 May in Rotorua, Highlander delivers an unforgettable day on the bike through some of the most iconic terrain in New Zealand mountain biking.

Every year we receive questions about course cut-offs for the 100km. We understand why. No one wants to feel like they were stopped unfairly, especially after months of preparation.  So here’s how we approach it.

There are thrilling rides and then there’s the Giant Miler, one of the most demanding single‑day mountain bike challenges on the planet.

​Part of New Zealand’s celebrated Whaka100 MTB festival weekend, the Giant Miler pushes riders beyond what most endurance cyclists ever imagine attempting. Already in its short history, the Miler has earned a reputation not just for distance, but for the relentless test it lays on both body and mind.

The Whaka100 team, in partnership with the Gunn family, is proud to announce the finalists for the inaugural Paul Gunn Scholarship, a legacy honouring one of the Whaka100 community’s most passionate and generous supporters.

We’re thrilled to announce that Giant New Zealand is the official bike of the Whaka 100, bringing together the world’s leading mountain bike brand and the Southern Hemisphere’s toughest one-day MTB challenge. As part of this exciting partnership, the iconic Whaka Miler will now be known as the Giant Miler.

We’ve always said that the Whaka 100 has such a passionate community that it feels like we’re its guardians rather than owners. This shared passion for community is how we got talking to Holland Beckett Law, our newest partner for this October’s event.

Official National Marathon Championship added to mountain bike calendar
​The rising popularity of long-distance mountain bike events around the globe, has led to Cycling New Zealand today confirming that the Marathon National Championship will be added to the calendar this year.
The Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships will be staged as part of the marquee 100km race at the Isuzu Whaka 100 in Rotorua on 23 October. Altogether over 3000 riders expected to take part across the various events over the weekend.

​Kia ora,

The Whaka 100 has been cancelled.

The Rotorua Lakes Council, on behalf of the Forest Recreation Committee, who had provided us their approval on the morning of Monday 24 January, retracted this approval at 2.27pm today.

We are painfully aware of the impact on you, your travel, accommodation, and all the work you’ve put in ahead of the event. We know many of you are here already. We are devastated, and it leaves Whaka 100’s future uncertain.

Your event was poised to go ahead, well within the red guidelines which have been set out by the Government to allow events to run in the COVID-19 conditions we are currently in. Our protocols met and exceeded what was mandated.

We’ve been monitoring the risks daily, and still perceive it to be low for our community, participants and staff.

Ultimately, we acknowledge and respect the decision of mana whenua and forest owners. Being able to access the forest is a privilege that we greatly appreciate.

We’re in the process of working out what we can do for participants, considering we received notice on the first day of rider registration. 

We kindly ask for your patience. We know you will have questions. We will be in touch with you as soon as we have more information. 

Tim & Belinda
& the Whaka 100 team

An event as tough as this one needs an equally tough partner. The Whaka 100 is stoked to welcome Isuzu Utes New Zealand to the MTB endurance event’s family of partners.

Joining as presenting partner for 2021, Isuzu Utes New Zealand will move up to becoming full naming rights partner in 2022 the largest mass-participant MTB event in the Southern Hemisphere.