This summer, Tim and Sue are taking on a 3,000km bikepacking adventure around the South Island, turning their love of challenge and service into a fundraising mission for survivors of slavery, trafficking, and abuse.
This summer, Tim and Sue are taking on a 3,000km bikepacking adventure around the South Island, turning their love of challenge and service into a fundraising mission for survivors of slavery, trafficking, and abuse.
For direct bank payments, please donate to:
Hagar Humanitarian Aid Trust
01-1158-0156288-00
Reference: Timsuebike
$0 raised of $0 goal
*Updated manually each week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 10 am. Last Updated at 9rd December 2025
Together for nearly 45 years, Tim and Sue have built a life defined by faith, family and a drive to serve. From careers in banking and medical laboratories to running their own travel business, they have explored more than 65 countries and devoted time to humanitarian work in the Philippines.
In recent years, Tim and Sue have embraced the adventure of bikepacking. They find joy in exploring new places on their bikes and are currently planning an ambitious 3,000km cycling trip around New Zealand’s South Island, scheduled for late 2025 to early 2026.
This trip is a testament to their enduring spirit of adventure and their commitment to living life to the fullest.
Now bikepacking is their passion, combining adventure with purpose. On this epic ride, they are not just chasing kilometres, they are riding to restore hope.
This week brought fewer kilometres but a refreshing shift in pace. The ride from Balclutha through Gore and into Invercargill was steady and uncomplicated. A restful stay with friends Ian and Dayle helped them restore energy before the week took a welcome turn toward adventure.
On Saturday morning Dayle drove them to Invercargill airport for a short twenty minute flight to Stewart Island. Landing on Rakiura gave them the opportunity for three days of rest celebration and gentle exploration of this special place.
Rakiura welcomed them with a slower gentler rhythm that felt like stepping back into an earlier New Zealand. They spent time on bush tracks visited the museum enjoyed the coastline and tasted local favourites including the well known Blue Cod burger. The quiet days offered their bodies a much needed recovery break.
By Tuesday they were back in Invercargill reunited with their bikes and turning north once again. The plan for the coming week is to reach Mavora Lakes travel by boat across Lake Wakatipu cycle through Lake Hayes and climb the Crown Range before ending the week at Lake Wanaka.
Entering Southland brought a challenging yet hopeful week. The route from Waimate to Balclutha came with mixed weather unexpected detours and memorable encounters with people along the way.
A fierce headwind and a collapsed rear carrier caused Sue to collide with Tim sending her onto newly sealed road. A neighbour named Karen rushed to help guiding them off the road and arranging transport to Oamaru for repairs and rest.
Thanks to caring neighbours and a skilled mechanic the bikes were restored. They altered their plans and followed the coast through Waikouaiti Beach Dunedin and Milton before reaching Balclutha.
Before pushing north they looked forward to three restorative days on Stewart Island where a fresh chapter of their journey would begin.
Tim and Sue began their journey from Picton to Waimate. The first two weeks brought both challenges and exhilarating moments as they cycled through constantly changing terrain and weather.
They experienced tailwinds and bright sunshine as well as rain soaked gravel roads that tested their strength and determination.
Meeting kiwis and travellers along the way has been one of the greatest gifts. Many showed genuine interest in Hagar's mission and encouraged them as they rode.
In Rangiora they were welcomed by a kind couple they had met earlier. Members of Hagar's NZ operations team visited and encouraged them as they continued sharing Hagar's work.
They cycled through Springfield Rakaia Gorge and Geraldine before reaching Fairlie where they enjoyed a peaceful two night rest.
The ride carried them closer to the mountains through some of the most scenic stretches of the journey.
Camping became a rhythm of star filled nights and quiet mornings before returning to the road again.
After challenges at Molesworth and Pig Saddle Road they continued toward Waimate and Duntroon while navigating patches of heavy rain. Danseys Pass and the route south awaited next.
10 Nov – Tauranga → Wellington
11 Nov – Ferry to Picton, begin cycling
12 Nov – Picton → The Tussocks
13 Nov – The Tussocks → Camden Cookshop
14 Nov – Camden Cookshop → Cobb Camp
15 Nov – Cobb Camp → Hanmer Springs
16 Nov – Rest day, Hanmer Springs
17 Nov – Hanmer Springs → Hawarden
18 Nov – Hawarden → Rangiora
19 Nov – Rest day, Rangiora
20 Nov – Rangiora → Springfield
21 Nov – Springfield → Rakaia Gorge
22 Nov – Rakaia Gorge → Geraldine
23 Nov – Geraldine → Fairlie
24 Nov – Rest day, Fairlie
25 Nov – Fairlie → Waimate
26 Nov – Waimate → Duntroon
27 Nov – Duntroon → Naseby
28 Nov – Naseby → Middlemarch
29 Nov – Middlemarch → Lee Stream School
30 Nov – Lee Stream School → Lawrence
1 Dec – Lawrence → Milton
2 Dec – Milton → Clinton
3 Dec – Clinton → Gore
4 Dec – Gore → Invercargill
5 Dec – Rest day, Invercargill
6–8 Dec – Stewart Island (multi-day stay)
9 Dec – Stewart Island → Lumsden area
10 Dec – Camp Taringatua → Lumsden
11 Dec – Lumsden → Mavora Lakes
12 Dec – Mavora Lakes → Walter Peak
13 Dec – Queenstown → Lake Hayes
14 Dec – Lake Hayes → Wānaka
15 Dec – Rest day, Wānaka
16 Dec – Wānaka → Makarora
17 Dec – Makarora → Pleasant Flat
18 Dec – Pleasant Flat → Haast
19 Dec – Haast region (105 km day)
20 Dec – Haast → Paringa
21 Dec – Paringa → Fox Glacier
22 Dec – Fox → Ōkārito
23 Dec – Rest day, Ōkārito
24 Dec – Ōkārito → Lake Ianthe
25 Dec – Lake Ianthe → Hokitika
26 Dec – Hokitika region
27 Dec – Hokitika → Lake Brunner
28 Dec – Rest day, Lake Brunner
29 Dec – Lake Brunner → Greymouth
30 Dec – Greymouth → Reefton
31 Dec – Reefton → Springs Junction
1 Jan – Springs Junction → Murchison
2 Jan – Rest day, Murchison
3 Jan – Murchison → Rotoroa
4 Jan – Rotoroa → St Arnaud
5 Jan – Rest day, St Arnaud
6 Jan – St Arnaud → Wakefield
7 Jan – Wakefield → Nelson
8 Jan – Nelson → Pelorus Bridge
9 Jan – Pelorus Bridge → French Pass
10–11 Jan – French Pass (rest / local ride days)
12 Jan – French Pass → Pelorus Bridge
13 Jan – Pelorus Bridge → Picton
14 Jan – Picton → Wellington
15 Jan – Wellington → Tauranga (bus)
2,923 km cycled
Click on the image to expand.
Media and mayors. For timings and photos contact Tarek Nadi - [Communications Officer Hagar NZ]