All aboard the adventure bus

Public transport makes this rogaining challenge one the whole family can try.

A ‘rogaine’ sounds like hair re-growth medication, but it’s actually a lot more fun. A form of orienteering, rogaining sees teams compete in an epic cross-country challenge.  The aim is to use route planning and navigation between checkpoints, choosing the best way to maximise points within the given time limit. The Metlink City Safari is a shorter rogaining challenge, which uses public transport to prevent us less-fit city dwellers from collapsing.
“At its ultimate it’s a 24-hour long competition in the back of beyond. Ordinary mortals aren’t into that kind of thing, so we started doing smaller ones round town,” says City Safari organiser Michael Wood.
Now in its eighth year, more than five hundred and fifty people entered City Safari in 2010. For the competition, teams of two to five people adventure around the city, from Seatoun to Petone, following a map with 100 circles marked on it – each circle (or “control point”), worth a certain amount of points, and the team with the most points winning. Some circles are worth more, but they may be farther away, so good strategy is vital to success.
“[Participants] have to decide if they want to catch a bus to the end of the line for more points, then work their way back, or focus on the ones that are closer,” says Wood.
The use of public transport makes this rogaining challenge unique. Being easier on the feet, it also makes it family-friendly.
Teams can register for the six-hour or the three-hour competition, finishing at 3:45 and 3:15pm respectively. With public transport at its core, what happens if buses are late?
“Of course, there are lots of legends about public transport here. Still, if you went from A to B in a motorcar you couldn’t guarantee to get there right on the dot. Sometimes they’re early,” he says.
Registrations have officially closed, but, depending on the numbers of maps and travel passes available, late registrations will be accepted through www.citysafari.org.nz.
Those who want to give it a try first can head to the waterfront from 1-2pm for a “taster” on the day.