From top to bottom: Hawke's Bay pair making waves by riding bikes

Ashlee Paulsen (left) and Minna Wilson recently completed their month long journey, cycling the length of New Zealand to raise funds for rural mental health. Photo / Supplied

A Hawke's Bay duo have helped raise close to $3500 for rural mental health by cycling the length of the country in less than a month.

Childhood best friends Ashlee Paulsen and Minna Wilson both grew up on sheep and beef farms in Central Hawke's Bay.

"We understand the stress that farmers face due to the harsh elements, interchanging markets, isolation and physical workload and we wanted to make a difference," Paulsen explained.

Both keen sportswoman, they had always wanted to cycle from Cape Reinga to Bluff and decided it was the perfect way to help raise funds for the Surfing for Farmers programme - which aims to get farmers off the farm and into the water for a break.

Ashlee Paulsen (left) and Minna Wilson reach their final destination in Bluff after a long journey cycling the length of New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

Despite having good baseline fitness, the pair spent the past year training for the more than 2200 kilometre journey which they started in mid-November.

"In my head it was all downhill doing it that way," Paulsen said.

They had initially planned to make the trip in May but had to push it back due to Covid-19.

Choosing not to take the quickest or most direct route, they averaged more than 100km each day, riding four days on, one day off.

The two battled strong headwinds in the South Island, and Wilson said "unexpected hills" were equally challenging.

But the most rewarding aspect of the trip for both was stopping in rural communities along the way.

Paulsen said it was special to meet people who were very supportive of what they were doing.

"We met a lot of people on the route on the road each day.

"Them opening up to us about their struggles with metal health was pretty cool."

Minna Wilson (left) and Ashlee Paulsen, both from farming families in Central Hawke's Bay, have raised close to $3500 for the Surfing for Farmers programme. Photo / Supplied

Wilson was surprised by how open people were with the pair.

"I think that was one of the most amazing things.

"I'm so used to farmers in rural communities not wanting to talk about mental health.

"Meeting with those people and hearing their stories was a big part of it for me."

Wilson said she was really grateful to have shared the "incredible journey" filled with highs and lows - literally - with Paulsen.

They raised close to $3500 through their trip, which would be donated to the Surfing for Farmers programme.

*Their givealittle page can be found at, givealittle.co.nz/cause/making-waves-riding-bikes