The Last Quarter Mile
A Winery Treasure Hunt Adventure
Crack a drag racer's code, follow his map and find the fortune he left to whoever could solve his final game. It's a self-guided treasure hunt by bike, starting from our Roys Hill base in Hastings and riding between three cellar doors in the Gimblett Gravels Wine District.
Think of it as an escape room in a vineyard, except it takes all afternoon and you're on a bike. You're the historians. Everyone else is already in the story.
Two-tenths of a mile an hour. That's how close Rex Calloway came.
Thunderpark drag strip once ran on State Highway 50 near Roys Hill, a dead-straight quarter mile where cars raced side by side. The site is a vineyard now, but in its day you could feel the engines from the road.
Rex Calloway raced Funny Cars there, the loudest machines on the strip. His best run was 199.8 mph. He never broke 200.
Rex has passed away, peacefully, in his eighties. He never trusted banks, and his will leaves everything to whoever can solve his final game. His notes say the treasure lies "where my race really ended." Nobody has ever agreed where that is.
His solicitor, Yates Ellsworth, has been told to read the will exactly as written, and the will is clear on one point: the game is for "historians, not storytellers. I want people who check." That's you.
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Your route
Our shortest treasure hunt ride: about 8 km of flat, easy cycle trails from our Roys Hill base. Allow 3 to 5 hours at your own pace, including tastings. The game runs Thursday to Sunday.
Rex's code tells you where to ride next. You'll visit these three cellar doors, in this order:
- Trinity Hill
- Unison Vineyard
- Ash Ridge Winery
The hunt finishes just 200 m from where you started, so the ride back is the shortest of the day.
Tasting at each stop is up to you. Not a wine drinker? There's still a race to finish, and none of the puzzles need a single sip.
Who it’s for
- Families: the puzzles are child friendly, and secret codes are the kind of thing kids love cracking
- Couples after a day out with a bit more to it than tasting
- Motorsport fans and local history buffs: half of Rex's questions are about racing, not wine
- Friends and celebrations: birthdays, hen parties or just a day off together
- Puzzle fans who like codes, maps and a good word game
How it works
Think of it as an escape room in a vineyard. It just takes all afternoon and you’re on a bike.
- Collect your bikes, your printed treasure map and a quick briefing from us.
- In the first chapter you learn Rex's code, a shape for every letter, and crack his first page to find out where to ride.
- At each winery, search for the markers Rex hid and scan them with your phone.
- Answer the wine questions on his torn-out journal pages to earn five coded cards.
- Mark the landmarks he points you to, then draw two straight lines across your map. Where they cross is where the journal lies.
- Decode the cards to open his five-letter lock at the final stop.
No role-play, no costumes (unless you want to dress up), and nobody has to act in front of anyone. The game runs on your phone. Each team gets one game access, which you can use on up to two phones.
What to bring
- A pen for marking your map
- A charged phone
- Comfy clothes you can ride in
- A water bottle and sunscreen
- A raincoat if it looks cloudy
We supply the map. Rex supplies the rest.
Bike Hire & Game Packages
| (Per Bike) $ | Sat | Fri & Sun | Wed & Thur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Bike Adult | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| Electric Bike | 105 | 100 | 95 |
| Tandem | 150 | 140 | 130 |
What’s Included in your game package?
We’ve got everything you need for a fun and comfortable biking experience in Hawke’s Bay. When you hire a bike from us, you’ll receive:
- Well-maintained bikes: Every bike in our fleet is serviced and ready to go, baskets included.
- Helmets and a proper briefing: We fit every rider before you leave and run through the route so you know exactly where you're going.
- Roadside Assistance: In the unlikely event of a flat tyre or mechanical issue, we offer on-call roadside assistance to get you back on the road quickly.
- Wine collection: Buy at any cellar door before 3pm and leave it there. We collect it and have it waiting at base when you return. Your bottles come home safely, whatever you buy.
- Game Access: The game is best played with 2–6 players. You play with access on up to 2 mobile devices per team. Got a larger group? Split into two competing teams of up to 2–6 players per team and race each other to the finish. Each team plays on their own device.
- Itinerary & Winery Bookings: We’ll send your itinerary from the chosen game through to the wineries and help coordinate your stops so you can focus on the investigation.
Not Included
- Transport: to and from On Yer Bike — drive or arrange via local taxi or Uber.
- Tasting Fees: paid directly to each winery you visit ($15–30 per person, per venue).
- Food & Lunch: all meals are extra, but you’ll pass some great spots along the way.
Use your own bike
| Bring Your Own Bike $ | Price (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Adult | 25 |
| Child | 15 |
You are welcome to join a group with your own bikes. We will cover the following:
- Game Access: The game is best played with 2–6 players. You play with access on up to 2 mobile devices per team. Got a larger group? Split into two competing teams of up to 2–6 players per team and race each other to the finish. Each team plays on their own device.
- Route Map & Briefing: We provide you with a detailed map of the area and suggestions for the best stops along your route.
- Itinerary & Winery Bookings: We’ll send your itinerary from the chosen game through to the wineries and help coordinate your stops so you can focus on the investigation.
What we do not include:
- Transport to and from On Yer Bike — drive or arrange via local taxi or Uber.
- Tasting Fees - paid directly to each winery you visit ($15–30 per person, per venue).
- Food & Lunch - all meals are extra, but you’ll pass some great spots along the way.
- Roadside service - not available to private bikes.
- Wine collection - not available to private bikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to know about wine, or about cars?
No to both. Rex asks a few questions on each, but every one has a hint and you can keep trying until you get it right.
How hard is it?
Medium. The first chapter shows you how Rex's code works with a worked example before you ride anywhere, and most tasks have a hint if you get stuck.
Will winery staff help with the puzzles?
No. Everything you need is on your phone, your map and your cards. Save your questions for the tasting.
When can we play?
Thursday to Sunday. Bikes are due back by 5pm.
Can we split into teams?
Yes. Larger groups can split into competing teams, each with its own game access, and compare scores on the leaderboard.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. It was written with families in mind: no scary bits, plenty of codes to crack, and tasting is entirely optional. For little ones we have infant seats (from 1 year) and kids trailers (from 2 years). See our Family Ride page for details.
Already played The Winemaker's Lost Journal?
Good, because this one uses a different code and a different route. Fancy something with a body count? Try Drink M for Murder, our murder mystery bike ride.