The Westshore Inn Hawkes Bay Traverse

The Hawke’s Bay Traverse is a challenging multisport race held in the scenic Esk Valley, north of Napier.

The course features a 12km run, 12km kayak, 49km road cycle and 20km mountain bike which can be completed can enter by individuals or teams of up to four.

A gruelling course has been constructed to ensure that competitors find the event both enjoyable and challenging. Members of the public will be able to enjoy the race from vantage points along each course, with the finish line at the Eskdale Domain.

To kick start the Traverse competitors will start this years race with a run through the Crohane Forest. This is a challenging run on forestry roads through the wilderness into the Mohaka Valley. Participants will be required to follow markers over some very rough terrain, through muddy creeks with several steep climbs.

The Kayak is the second leg this year with paddlers departing from Mountain Valley Lodge property on McVicar Road. Competitors will have a short sprint before collecting their kayaks and navigating the Mohaka River. This leg takes paddlers to Fishermans Clearing / Glenfalls Reserve. Paddlers are required to provide a Grade 2 Certificate.

A change in the course this year will see Road Cyclists take over from the kayaker at Fishermans Clearing / Glenfalls Reserve. Cyclists will travel down Waitara Road, turning left on to SH5 and head south, over the saddle, through Eskdale turning left into Shaw Road and the Eskdale Park. This is a gutsy route with wicked downhill sections.

This final leg of the race finds mountain bike riders taking on the Eskdale Mountain Bike Park on exciting tracks with loads of new challenges.

For more information visit the website.