Hanmer Howler

The Hanmer Howler returns on November 28, reviving Hanmer Springs’ endurance MTB tradition with almost entirely singletrack racing and a weekend offering plenty for riders, families and supporters.

There is a point during the Hanmer Howler when the mountain bike race you've been riding all afternoon changes. Daylight fades through the trees, twilight settles over Hanmer Springs and lights begin appearing on handlebars and helmets. Then you're racing by headlight. Daylight, Twilight, Headlight, Howl… It neatly captures an event that combines the old-school appeal of endurance mountain biking with one of New Zealand's best-known outdoor destinations.

On Saturday, November 28, riders can choose between six, 12 and 24 hours of racing, either taking on the challenge solo or sharing the laps as part of a team. But the Howler is also about reviving a style of racing that has history in Hanmer Springs.

Solo riders can discover just how long they can keep circulating, while teams can make the weekend as much about mates and camaraderie as outright results. Seven Hanmer Trails Rolled Into One Course The course itself is one of the Howler's biggest attractions. Rather than relying on kilometres of forest road simply to accumulate distance, organisers have pieced together seven of Hanmer's best-known and most popular trails, creating a circuit that is 99.9 percent singletrack.

All entries close 15th Nov unless sold out prior! Numbers are limited!

Check out more great information here:

Daylight, Twilight, Headlight, Howl – Hanmer Howler Returns For 2026 | Sportzhub