Team NZBlue

Tickets are now live! 👀

We are gearing up for round 2 - and it's going to be another incredible event!

Think delicious food, great music, fantastic auction items, raffles (with VERY good prizes), ice cold beers and a bunch of really good people!

Tickets are selling FAST, so ditch the FOMO and grab your table now: https://nzblue.org/collections/2026-long-lunch-tables

The countdown is on...

Excited? YES.
Nervous? Of course.
Ready? We will be.

Follow our adventure - Alcatraz Swim. August 8th.

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Introducing what’s next for the team…

The Alcatraz Swim - August 2026! 🏊‍♂️

We’re super excited to announce our next big challenge. Team NZBLUE is headed to San Francisco Bay to take on the legendary Alcatraz Swim on August 8th, 2026.

This iconic open water challenge starts near the historic Alcatraz Island - famous for its prison escape stories and sees swimmers battling cold, choppy water, strong currents, and powerful tides as they make their way toward the San Francisco shoreline.

It’s roughly 2–3 km of open water crossing, and while the distance might sound short - the conditions sure don’t! Expect icy water, shifting currents and the mental toughness that comes with swimming in one of the world’s most famous waters.

This isn’t just about ticking off a bucket list swim - it’s about purpose, resilience and raising support for meaningful causes back in NZ along the way. 🙌

Stay tuned over the next few months as we share training updates, team stories and fundraising goals leading up to this epic challenge!

We are gearing up for round 2...and it's going to be AWESOME!

NZBLUE Multisport (Inc) is excited to bring back our Long Lunch to raise much-needed funds for a few hand-picked charities, as we gear up for our endurance challenges of 2026!

All details to come, but for now - SAVE THE DATE!! 📅

When: July 17th 2026
Where: BIVACCO, Auckland Viaduct

It's an event not to be missed!

Event Report: Lake Mackenzie Swim

Located in Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand, Lake Mackenzie is a glacially carved alpine lake set within rugged, rainforest-clad mountains. Unless you are blessed with a Helicopter and license to land, access is a days hike along the famous Routeburn Track.

Aaron Davis and Ben Davies swapped the space in the packs normally reserved tor Bourbon, Gin and Happy Hour goodies for wetsuits and hoodies. A tough decision at the best of times made harder with the knowledge that even with those luxuries, the alpine lake temperature with fresh snow melt may in fact make this the worst event decision made for a long time.

Research prior on Strava, Tramping sites and good old google turned up no evidence of anyone ever swimming the lake. Plenty of people have a post hike dip but swimming 2km in sub alpine conditions has clearly only entered the minds of the brave or the stupid.

The day started early with a 3 hour bus trip to the start of the Hike from Queenstown to Te Anau. Weather was ominous to start but the heavens cleared for a great hike of 5 hours with pace setter Lana cracking the whip on a couple of old rhinos.

The window between the end of the hike and the start of happy hour courtesy of Ultimate Hikes was short enough for no rethinking to occur. Despite the wetsuits having shrunk over the summer break (Editor note - Store wetsuits out of sunlight) Aaron and Ben joined the local Paradise Ducks for a waddle down to the lake.

The snow clad mountains circling the lake were as breathtaking as the water temperature. Best guess was around 10 degrees Celsius. A few minutes of acclimating and contemplating life's mysteries was followed by a trepid 200m of water polo swimming. Despite a wetsuit hoodie the lake was just too cold go get your face in for any length of time. Eventually feet, hands and face became numb and accustomed and the swim began.

Aaron of course set the pace but again made sure his wingman was safe and within cooee. The lake is just under 1km long and at 500m mark there was the chat whether to push on or turn back. Those chats have never occurred before in any event, but the temperature was that cold.

Clearly there would be no post if the decision was to retreat, and the boys pushed on to the soft grass at the head of the lake. Through the crystal clear water, close to the shore were slabs of granite dumped by glaciers many millennia ago. Just a few meters from that the view was of a deep green abyss.

40 minutes later the mission was accomplished much to the bewilderment of tourists from around the globe. Until proven otherwise, we will take the title of first to swim Lake Mackenzie...

Race Report - The 508.

Billed as "the toughest 48 hours in sport" - it was the tagline that caught the attention of Team NZBLUE earlier in the year. The 4th event to be completed following Race Across America in 2023, The Gibraltar Strait Swim Crossing and 5 Passes Cycle Tour in 2024 this event was right up there to challenge the team and with that of course comes the profile of such an event that helps the team raise much needed funds for youth charities in New Zealand.

This years charity was the awesome and in August a well supported long lunch and charity auction raised over $33,000 for them!

The race started in Borrego Springs, CA 7am on Friday 19 September. A 1/100 year rainstorm hit the day earlier, with cellphones beeping the emergency warning during the race briefing and flash flooding across the desert. That squashed any real plans for course review and familiarity. We were to rely on technology and experience to navigate the 508 mile course with close to 40.000ft of climbing - but hey we had completed RAAM two years prior and American's are great at hyping up things so we felt confident at the start and all thought, "Yep - We've got this..."

WRONG! SO WRONG....The 508 mile race comes in and out of Borrego, a sleepy town of about 3000 over the coastal ranges from San Diego. We had downloaded the GPS file that gives a whole manner of data, turn by turn instructions to Garmin Computers and GPS aps. In fact the course goes in and out of Borrego 4 times in different directions which is perfect for support in Ultra Cycling, but we soon found you get off course and the GPS will assume you are riding a different part and send you in the wrong direction.

The town is in an almost sea level flat section of the desert surrounded by mountains. When you come from the other side of the world, have been on the ground for less that a day sense of direction and the area all tends to look the same. Within 5 minutes, unknown at the time we were off course and we had to double back putting us -30mins down before we even started! Its Ironic that one of the reasons of heading to the part of the world was a redo as we went off course in the same place 2 years prior...

Anyway back on the pony and we were chasing. We might have an average team age of 55, but when the gun goes off, we find the decades of racing, competitiveness and grit is still inside us. There was about 30 teams and individuals and one by one we started to pick teams up. Confidence was high, roads were smooth and fast.

The first 24 hours went through relatively smoothly. We finished the first lap close on midnight allowing us a quick bathroom break and clothing change. 4am had us close to the Mexican Border which included us going through pre border check points. The passports were ready in case we were held up, the well armed but friendly border police waved us through with somewhat bemused expressions. I guess if your trying the sneak across the border, you aren't wearing lycra, lit up like a Christmas Tree on a bike with follow vehicle and flashing lights.

Into day two and the scale of climbs, some as much as 5000 ft along with the desert heat hitting 100F / 38C started to take a big toll on the team from down under. The general strategy was Blakey to hit the long climbs, Aaron and Mat to smash the rolling hills and Bennie to take the downhills and TT the flat. Conditions meant we were all in, dropping down to 10 min rotations at some stages just to get through heat and incline. Loop 2 was done around 8am, Loop 3 and ourselves done by noon.

Unfortunately the final loop beckoned and it took every ounce of grit and teamwork to get through a repat climb of the Glass Elevator - one of the most famous climbs and descents in the Cycling World. Kathy Blake, crew chief, photographer, counselor and happiest person on the planet was the glue keeping us together. There's a saying I learned from early days training with Wharenui Swim Club in Christchurch. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". The physical, mental and emotional strength shown by the boys was inspirational.

34h32m post the start we crossed the line. Winners of our division and fourth overall. Ultra Cycling is a participation sport chosen by few and witnessed by less, so the finish line was one of personal pride, a couple of beers with the organisers and a compulsory shot of tequila from one of the sponsors .

Special thanks must go to our sponsors who helped us raise 33K for I am Hope Foundation, our supporters who donated time and money to attend the Long Lunch and these legends who put in the mahi to get the job done: Mat Tolhurst, Aaron Davis, Mark Blake, Kathy Blake.

This truly was the toughest 48 hours in Sport! (Well 34h32 mins for us:) Until event number 5, signing off. Ben Davies.

We did it – $32,750 raised for I Am Hope!

We are BEYOND GRATEFUL for your support at the NZBLUE Multisport long lunch fundraiser that was held at BIVACCO on Friday!

Together, with your generosity, we raised an incredible $32,750 for the I Am Hope Foundation, helping fund vital counselling sessions for young people across New Zealand.

From the vibrant atmosphere, delicious food (thanks to the team at BIVACCO), an awesome charity auction, and live music courtesy of the incredibly talented 'THE HAND', the day was one to remember but and it wouldn’t have been possible without you.

If you weren’t able to attend, or if you’d still like to contribute, you can continue to support this life-changing cause here: https://www.iamhope.org.nz/donate

Thank you for standing with us to give hope to our youth. Together, we are making a difference.

Roll on the next one, right? 😉

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The Bivacco Long lunch is just a few hours away. See everyone 12pm sharp. Entres served up soon after!

FINAL TABLES REMAINING!

Join us for this unbelievable long lunch - whether you're coming solo, as a couple, or with a crew, we want YOU there.

These are the last tables, and they’re right on the deck, in the heart of the action with the team!

📅 When: Friday 22nd August
🕛 Time: 12PM
📍 Where: The iconic Bivacco Restaurant

🎤 Guest Speaker: Mike King
🎶 Live Band: The Hand
🎁 Charity Auction
💙 All for an incredible cause – supporting youth mental health with I Am Hope

Tickets available now: www.nzblue.org

Let’s make it a goody!!
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LONG LUNCH UPDATE!🍴

We have been blown away by the response to this event – thank you! 🔥💪🔥

If you’re still keen to get in on the lunch of the year, we’ve got limited alfresco seating available now. Don’t miss out! ⭐

📅 When: Friday 22nd August
🕛 Time: 12PM
📍 Where: The iconic Bivacco Restaurant

To grab your tickets, please visit www.nzblue.org (please note all tickets purchased from now on will be for seating in the alfresco area of Bivacco)😍

See you there!

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NZBLUE Multisport (Inc.) is thrilled to bring back the ultimate throwback fundraiser in support of I Am Hope Foundation.

📅 When: Friday 22nd August
🕛 Time: 12PM
📍 Where: The iconic Bivacco Restaurant

Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival, incredible food from award-winning Bivacco, a charity auction full of must-have items, and finish the day with live music by The Hand.

All for an incredible cause – supporting youth mental health with I Am Hope 💛

🎟️ Tickets available now at www.nzblue.org - you don't want to miss this one!

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