The grounds at Te Anau School were buzzing with excitement on Saturday afternoon (29 Mar).

A crowd of Lycra-clad cyclists basking in the sun were resting after their 120km bike ride from Milford to Te Anau mingled with school children and Fiordland locals, some also on their bikes.

Ride Holiday bikers cross the finish line at Te Anau School. Photo: Jamie Dale/Southland App

The smell of barbecued sausages wafted through the air. Te Anau School was the final destination of the Ride Holidays Fiordland Classic 2025 charity bike ride.

Ride Holidays, a bike tour company which organises cycle tours all over the world, has taken it upon themselves to put bikes in schools, targeting kids that need them the most.

For the last 10 years they’ve been organising charity bike rides to raise money for schools.

Karl Woolcott, Dean Mills and Chris Wood are the driving force behind Ride Holidays and the Bikes For Schools charity events.

“As a kid I took riding bikes for granted. It was an everyday thing for me. I believe all kids should have that opportunity,” Woolcott says.

So far 1500 bikes in New Zealand schools have been funded by Ride Holidays. Each school gets 30 bikes to keep and use for PE and during lunchtime.

Pictured (left-right) at the celebrations are DJ Norris, Kate Norris, Te Anau School principal Grant Excell, Paul Norris, Chloe Harden, Chris, Ride Holiday organiser Karl Woolcott, Amelia Meffan, Todd, and Max Meffan. Photo: Jamie Dale/Southland App

Te Anau School and Invercargill’s Fernworth School are the lucky recipients of 30 brand-new bikes for their pupils this year.

Woolcott explains that they select low decile schools, where families can’t always afford buying bikes for their children. They also need a principal who is enthusiastic, very active and into cycling.

“Te Anau School was a good fit, and the principal, Grant Excell, also fits the bill. During Covid I spent a lot of time in Te Anau where I met Steve and Kate Norris of Trips and Tramps and Realnz CEO Dave Beeche,” Woolcott says.

These and many other Te Anau-based companies helped to organise the Fiordland Charity Bike Ride and donated money towards the bikes. One has to also acknowledge the Milford Classic Charity Bike Ride participants who by paying their entry fees contributed to the funding of this project.

According to Woolcott, 100% of profit from this year’s charity bike ride went to schools.

“But charity events are not the only source of funding for the bikes for schools. All of our cycle tours also contribute to the funding,” he adds.

A selection of the new bikes now available to Te Anau School. Photo: Jamie Dale/Southland App

In addition to supplying the bikes to schools Ride Holidays set up a maintenance gang to regularly visit the schools they've supported to make sure all the bikes are working properly.

The 30 shiny new bikes needed a shed to store them, which prompted another project for Te Anau School. As is usual for this town, a range of organisations and businesses came to the rescue.

“We received funding from Meridian Energy’s Power Up Fund, Trips and Tramps have helped again, a bequest in a will was made from long-time local Jan Vermeulen along with our board putting up funds,” Principal, Grant Excell says.

“On top of that, the local Flower Show Committee has given us funds to fit the shed out with bike racks and equipment. This really is a community project, thank you to all of those involved.”

Excell says that having the bikes will also help those kids, particularly the younger ones, who can’t get their bike to school, like those who live on a farm and come to school by bus.

“All our Tamariki will benefit from the bikes, whether at lunchbreaks or on school trips utilising the many cycle trails our area has to offer."

A biker gets a well-earned post ride massage from Fiordland Massage Clinic. Photo: Jamie Dale/Southland App

"Our learners are incredibly lucky to be part of such an amazing project in such a supportive community."

"We would like to extend a huge thank you to Ride Holidays and to the local organisations and businesses who helped and supported us,” he said.

Now that it’s all said and done, it’s time for a bike ride.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Ride Holidays or contact Karl Woolcott by email [email protected] or phone on 021 272 4522

Photo: Jamie Dale/Southland App