The Winemaker's Lost Journal
A treasure hunt bike ride through Hawke’s Bay Wine Country

Every great wine has a secret. Elias Thorne wrote his down.

Elias Thorne made a wine nobody has ever matched. He called it the Crimson Enigma, and he never told a soul how he made it. Every grape, every method and every blend lived in one leather journal, and the notes that mattered most he wrote in a code of his own.

Elias has died, peacefully and at a great age. When his grand-niece Beatrix cleared his cellar, she found only the journal's empty cover. Tucked inside were his code key, a hand-drawn map and a letter.

The letter names you as his last surviving heirs, to an estate nobody knew existed. The estate is the journal itself. All you have to do is find it.

Elias left very precise instructions. He also said he never set a puzzle he couldn't solve himself on a bad day, so there's no excuse.

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 Elias'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 Elias 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. Elias supplies the rest.

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.
• 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.

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. 
• 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.