Alpine Odyssey heads to Aotearoa
Kia ora koutou,
10 years ago later this month, I kayaked back into Anzac Cove at Gallipoli at the end of a year-long odyssey circumnavigating the Mediterranean Sea, the home of Homer's original Odyssey. 3 years ago Alpine Odyssey Australia saw me complete a winter ski traverse the length of the Australian Alps. And now, in the winter of 2025 I’ll be joined by my good mate Laurence Mote for Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa, a 4000km, 90 day journey traversing the length of Aotearoa/ New Zealand, taking in each of the 25 Kiwi ski areas en route, 5 in the North Island, 20 in the South.
One thing more than any other will inspire us to push through the undoubted challenges of this tough winter journey - the sores, the cold, the exhaustion and more - to raise $75,000 for Save the Children for climate adaptation and resilience projects in the South Pacific, for our island nation neighbours who are right on the frontline of climate change.
We are living through some pretty strange times at present, and it is more important than ever to think about those in need, those suffering from natural and unnatural disasters. Hopefully you can support our goal.
There are so many facets to this journey as we traverse one of the most spectacular countries on earth - Māori culture and connection, Laurence's life changing accident and recovery, the very real challenges our Pacific neighbours face from climate change, celebrating NZ skiing and boarding, mountain life and bike life. We’re even planning on sailing a yacht between the North and South Islands and trying the esoteric Winter Olympic sport of curling.
Our mountain bikes, towing trailers with camp and ski gear on board, will be our primary transport over the 4000km, but we also plan to ski tour between some resorts, hiking (tramping!) too perhaps. The wild and fickle NZ winter weather will ensure plenty of variety.
We’re excited for this challenge, moving towards 25 June when we leave from Cape Reinga, the most northerly point in NZ, and start heading up the length of Aotearoa (North Island Māori describe our journey south as heading up!) to finish, after all those ski runs, at the fittingly named Slope Point, the most southerly point of the South Island. You can see an outline of our planned route here.
Laurence Mote
Stoked to have Laurence along on this journey, as long as he behaves himself! We have done numerous trips together in the NZ mountains and no doubt I’ll be trying to keep up with him as usual.
Laurence, a man hugely proud of his Māori heritage and a former NZ representative mountain biker, is actually legally blind after an anaphylactic shock from a bee sting 12 years ago that nearly killed him. After going into cardiac arrest and coming out of a coma unable to walk, talk or see, Laurence, through immense drive, strength and family support, brought himself back. He is still twice the skier and rider I am!
For Laurence, our journey together will be another step on the road, the longest expedition he has undertaken.
The Fundraising
The initial goal of our $75,000 fundraising target is to support a Save the Children pilot project building Vanuatu’s first climate resilient shipping container classrooms, ensuring that no matter what, children have access to education.
Vanuatu is one of the most disaster-prone countries globally. In 2023 alone, it was hit by three severe cyclones - Kevin, Judy, and Lola - causing extensive damage to school infrastructure. I was very fortunate to visit some interesting projects there in late November last year. Just weeks after my visit, an earthquake near the capital Port Vila, destroyed another 60 classrooms.
You can make a general donation or treat yourself to ‘buying’ one of the 25 snow resorts Laurence and I plan to ski at. We did this very successfully for Alpine Odyssey Australia.
Who will win the Bledisloe Cup of fundraising - Australia or New Zealand??
Our Partners
Along with our fundraising partner Save the Children, in both Australia and New Zealand we have some mighty fine partners on board for Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa. Key here are Osprey who are looking after all our pack and bikepacking requirements, Nemo who provide our tents, mats sleeping bags and more, Ground Effect who make us look better than we are with their clothing and our good mates at Adventure South, New Zealand’s leading operator of biking and trekking tours.
Our skis come from Black Diamond. Scarpa look after our ski boots. ATK connect said boots with said skis with their bindings. Smith look after our eyes and skulls with glasses/goggles and helmets, North Wave our cycling footwear and Quest make the rugged bike trailers that it all goes in.
You can follow the journey on Facebook and Instagram and occasional newsletter updates like this one.
Appreciate all and any support for our fundraising.
