Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Adventure Ride – 2026 NZ Fishing, Hunting & 4x4 Expo

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Adventure Ride

Join Rotorua Adventure Riders for an exclusive adventure ride as part of the 2026 NZ Fishing, Hunting & 4x4 Expo.

This fundraising ride provides rare access through The Pinnacles, a privately managed forest block that is seldom open to motorcycles. Enjoy around 200 km of excellent adventure riding while helping raise funds for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter—a service many riders may one day depend on.

Whether you’re on a lightweight adventure bike or a larger ADV machine, the ride has been designed to be inclusive, enjoyable and memorable.

Why we’re raising money

Every dollar from your entry goes directly to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.

Ride organiser Scott explains why this matters:

“This ride is a thank you to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter for the incredible work they do. We saw that first-hand last year when a rider suffered a serious injury in a remote area. I’d also previously had a workmate flown out of the Ureweras after a workplace accident. This is an opportunity for us as riders to give something back.”

Important Risk Information

This ride includes public roads, gravel roads and private forestry tracks.

Hazards may include loose surfaces, corrugations, mud, ruts, dust, changing weather, other vehicles, forestry traffic, gates, livestock and remote locations.

Motorcycle riding carries an inherent risk of serious injury or death. (There is a reason we are raising money for the Rescue Helicopter, consider it an investment in your future!)

Participants are responsible for ensuring they have an appropriate motorcycle, suitable riding skills, protective equipment and fitness to complete the ride safely.

Attendance at the riders’ briefing is compulsory.

Ride Schedule

Saturday 15 August

• Sign-on: 9:00 am at 2026 NZ Fishing, Hunting & 4x4 Expo Rotorua

• Compulsory riders’ briefing: 9:45 am

• Ride departs: 10:00 am

• Return to Expo: before 3:00 pm

The ride will finish in time for Chris Power’s Romaniacs Adventure presentation at the Expo.

The Ride

Scott has arranged private access through The Pinnacles and designed a route suitable for a broad range of adventure riders.

“The ride will be very inclusive, so big bikes and intermediate riders are very welcome. I’m keen for us to spread out a bit so the quicker riders can still have a bit of a blat while the slower riders can cruise along at the back. There will be a couple of slippery sections but nothing particularly challenging.”

Expect approximately 200 km of riding, primarily on gravel roads and private forestry tracks.

The final route will be confirmed closer to the event.

Entry Fee

$50 per rider

100% of every entry fee will be donated to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.

Motorcycle Requirements

Your motorcycle should:

• Be road legal and capable of maintaining highway speeds.

• Be suitable for extended gravel road and forestry riding.

• Have tyres appropriate for loose gravel conditions.

Riders should be confident riding on unsealed roads.

Navigation

The route will be supplied as a GPX file during the week before the event.

Each rider should carry a GPS or phone capable of following GPX tracks.

The route passes through private forestry with locked gates, so access will be managed within a specific time window.

What to Bring

At a minimum you should have:

• Protective riding gear

• A full fuel tank

• Water and snacks

• Basic tools

• Tyre repair equipment

Recovery from private forestry can be difficult. If your motorcycle becomes disabled, recovery arrangements and associated costs remain the rider’s responsibility.