Taking on the Polynesian Mud Spa obstacle at the Rotorua Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

Loaded Tough Guy & Gal Challenge hits Rotorua

Taking on the Polynesian Mud Spa obstacle at the Rotorua Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

Taking on the Polynesian Mud Spa obstacle at the Rotorua Tough Guy & Gal Challenge. Image credit: eventpromotions.co.nz

Rotorua is the home of the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge and the event will be coming back to the city once more at the end of August for two days on the 20th and 27th August. The course at Rotorua is probably one of the toughest and most exhilarating in the country and is found at Lakes Ranch, an outdoor pursuits and equestrian centre just a short 15 minute drive from downtown Rotorua.

What is the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge?

2016 will mark the 14th year that the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge has been running and it all kicked off right here in Rotorua back in 2003. The original race saw 432 competitors battle it out over a course which was a total mud pit! As word got out about the fun and the challenge of the event, the numbers grew and the following year, the number of entries doubled.

Rotorua Loaded Tough Guy & Gal Challenge 2015 from Katie Hendrikse on Vimeo.

Due to the growing success and the expanding size of the event, additional events have been added across New Zealand over the years including Auckland in 2009, Palmerston North in 2010 and then in 2012, events were added in seven destinations across the North Island. The following year, over 14,000 competitors battled it through the mud and over and under obstacles to complete the Tough Guy & Girl Challenge.

This year’s series will see nine events across six venues and there are expe3cted to be over 20,000 entrants across all events. Not bad from the humble beginnings on a mud pit in Rotorua.

Corporate Challenge

Crawling through mud is an integral part of the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

Crawling through mud is an integral part of the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge. Image credit: eventpromotions.co.nz

As well as the events being open to individuals to push themselves over obstacles and through the mud, there is also a Corporate Challenge where the organisers ask you to prove that your company group is tough enough to take on the famous Tough Guy & Girl Corporate Challenge. In this ultimate off road challenge your group will test themselves on a course that includes swamps, net climbs, natural and man-made obstacles, mud mud and more mud.

This is a chance for your company to get together outside of work hours, train, work on team bonding, swap the business attire for fancy dress and take on the 6km run or walk course option in the fight for the Corporate Challenge title!

Tough Guy & Gal Rotorua

There's always a place to clean off at the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

There’s always a place to clean off at the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge. Image credit: eventpromotions.co.nz

The venue for this year’s event will once again be Lake Ranch – the perfect destination for this ultimate challenge. Just a short drive from downtown Rotorua, follow the signs to Hells Gate and Lake Ranch is right opposite. This venue provides a magnificent course with spectacular scenery for the ultimate experience. The facilities include hot showers, large hot swimming pool, hot food and coffee for sale and good parking.  Numbers for the event are limited to just 2,000 competitors on the day so make sure you book your place today as many of the other events have sold out. You’ve got just under a month to get trained up so get fit and ready for the summer and take on this iconic Kiwi challenge!

For more information and to book your place, be sure to visit the Tough Guy & Gal Website.

Book your Rotorua accommodation

CPG Hotels is in the fortunate position of having two hotels situated right in the heart of Rotorua so if you are looking for somewhere peaceful and relaxing to spend the weekend after you complete the course or you are looking for accommodation to suit a big group, we’ve got you covered. Lake Rotorua Hotel is right on the shores of Lake Rotorua and offers up a peaceful and relaxing place to rest up following the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge. Four Canoes offers up more hostel-type accommodation and is ideal for big groups who want to hang out together as a team. We have some great winter warmer offers to book your accommodation for the two weekend dates today.