While the only alone time many 14-year-old boys get is online gaming in their rooms, Mahe Braaksma is about to do 40 days solid through backcountry New Zealand on his bike to raise money for Fiordland Marine SAR.

The gutsy Te Anau teen sets off from Cape Reinga this Saturday (13 December) to embark on the 3000km Tour Aotearoa bikepacking adventure to Bluff – a journey he completed, aged 9, with his family in 2021.

Mahe’s parents Adrian and Stef, his older sister Jazz and younger brother Charlie, took a year off to enjoy the journey and Mahe says he decided a while ago he really wanted to do it again, but by himself.

“When he came up with the idea I thought, ‘Cool, as I can go with him’, but he’s keen to go on his own,” Adrian says.

Mahe’s been mowing lawns and doing odd jobs around his community to raise the necessary money for the trip, which he’s using to fundraise for Fiordland Marine SAR, for which his dad volunteers.

Mahe has put in the mahi – with a few decent, grunty training runs, including a 130km trip up the backcountry Mount Nicholas Road.

Te Anau's Braaksma family took a year off in 2021 to bike from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Photo: Supplied

“I got to a ford, and I was up so high I had to turn back,” he says.

He also rode from Milford Sound to Te Anau, fundraising for Fiordland Marine SAR and his trip to compete in the South Island Secondary Schools Championships, where he placed third, raising $1500 all up.

In spring Mahe placed 10th in the Under 15 XC Race at the National Mountain Biking Championships and he’s a strong competitor for his school, Fiordland College, where he’s just finishing Year 9.

He’s out most days training and when he’s not on his bike, it’s sailing, climbing, running or football.

Mahe’s got the business side all worked out too – netting sponsorship from almost 10 sponsors, all happy to supply everything from sunscreen and dehydrated meals to fruit bars and peanut butter.

“I just emailed them and they all said, ‘Yes’,” Mahe says.

Mahe Braaksma represented his school at the 2025 National Mountain Biking Championships, where he placed 10th in the Under 15 XC Race. Photo: Supplied

Some Fiordland businesses have also supported him, their business logos on his T-shirt in return.

Tenting along the way, the scariest part isn’t being in the back of beyond in pitch black darkness by himself but more what to do if he injures himself, Mahe says.

He’s trained in First Aid and carrying a complete First Aid kit, plus a Garmin inReach satellite device to message for help, if needed.

Mum and Dad will know just where he is at all times, unlike the parents of most teenagers: “TrackMe NZ have sponsored him so we will have a real time app so that we can always see where he is,” Adrian says.

The journey follows a similar route to the diverse Te Araroa Trail through the country and for Mahe the most fun part of the family ride in 2021 was biking around the beautiful Coromandel beaches.

He reckons the most remote section of his journey will likely be Timber Trail around Ohakune and Taumarunui.

Mahe’s lawn mowing gig to fund the trip has raised $3000 to $4000 to buy a decent bike and tent and pay for food and supplies.

It’s not the remote backcountry and the numerous roads, trails and tracks where Adrian and Stef are most concerned for Mahe’s safety either.

“I’m a little bit nervous,” Adrian says.

“But I’m totally happy about Mahe being out there by himself as he can look after himself in the backcountry.

I’m more concerned about him biking through busy cities like Auckland and Wellington.”

Both Adrian and sister Jazz will meet Mahe in Auckland on that leg to bike parts of it with him, and he’s hoping to reach Taumarunui in time to be picked up for a family Christmas break on D’Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds.

He will have earned his Christmas dinner and grandparents and cousins from Motueka and Whanganui will all be eager for Mahe to share his adventures.

Then it’s back on the bike headed south in the hope of raising more awareness and much needed funding for training, equipment, travel and flight time for Fiordland Marine SAR with Mahe now joining the ranks of its unsung heroes.

“I’ll be giving out little Givealittle cards along the way,” he says.

CLICK HERE to donate to Mahe's Fiordland SAR fundraiser.

To follow Mahe's progress on Facebook CLICK HERE.

Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.