Macpac Motatapu organisers have announced its off-road sporting event will feature a new backcountry event in 2022: a 56km biking loop track through challenging, scenic and hard-to-access terrain.

The annual event is held every March in Wānaka and Queenstown, with races traversing Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe stations, and this year the new ‘Coronet Loop’ will be the sixth feature on race day (March 5).

“The Coronet Loop is the perfect step up for our riders who have done the Macpac Motatapu valley mountain bike and want to move up to the next level,” Macpac Motatapu co-owner Gemma Peskett said. 

The technical backcountry circuit gives riders access to Greengates Saddle and Deep and Coronet Creeks which have not previously been open for public access. 

The race is the “perfect” step up for riders who have done the valley mountain bike and want to move on to the next level, Macpac Motatapu co-owner Gemma Peskett said. 

“There are some tough climbs and fast descents, accompanied by more technical terrain and challenging course length, which will appeal to an intermediate to advanced rider,” she said, “plus, the most epic views throughout the course.”

It’s taken three years of behind-the-scenes work to add the Coronet Loop to the Macpac Motatapu lineup.

“We believe there will be an appetite for this race amongst our current competitors and the New Zealand mountain bike community,” fellow Macpac Motatapu co-owner Craig Gallagher said. 

With the addition of the Coronet Loop, there are now six races as part of this year’s ever popular Macpac Motatapu event.

As well as the new Coronet Loop, the Macpac Motatapu’s races include the 52.5km Ultra Run, 42km Off-Road Marathon (run or walk options), 47km UDC Mountain Bike (individual, teams and e-bike options), 15km Miners Trail (run & walk options) and 4km Jennian Homes Junior Trail Run.

“With three out of our five [other] events already sold out and only a few spots left on the 47km UDC Mountain Bike, we are in a great position to add this to our roster and give our participants another epic sporting experience on 5th March 2022,” Craig said.  

Find more information and book in for this year’s Macpac Motatapu here.

Macpac Motatapu thanked Soho Property Ltd, the QEII National Trust and the Queenstown Trails Trust for the opportunity to race on the Coronet Loop. 

PHOTOS: Macpac Motatapu