Denis Millard and the Tour of Aotearoa
Dennis spoke to members about his cycle journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff. A journey he undertook in February 2024.
This was a three thousand kilometre journey from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south. 36 days in total cycling for 6-8 hours a day with 3 rest days scattered liberally along the way. The averge distance travelled was 90k per day. The journey for offical purposes is documented by photos taken at notable stops along the way.
The route was definitely not a case of simply following State Highway 1. It involved 90 mile beach 9 Great Rides of New Zealand and 12 Heartland routes. There were early starts book ended with coffee and at food stops pies! The trip is not for the faint-hearted or badly organized as it appeared from Dennis's trip that organisation was an essential element of pulling off the trip.
At the end of the trip, Bluff, Dennis told us you have to buy the medal confirming your trip. Denis's trip was not just a cycle trip. As well as the personal challenge it was also a fund raiser for Parkinsons disease. Over the course of the trip Dennis raised over 27,000.00 for reasearch into the disease.
The story told by Dennis was fascinating. It showed us that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.