Australia’s biggest bike treasure hunt is back just in time for the Easter school holidays, and this year it’s pedalling in with its biggest prize pool yet.
The Pedal Heist is an annual event from the crew at Pedal Bikes in collaboration with 99 Bikes, and is returning for its 11th year with a huge $60,000 worth of bikes up for grabs across Australia and New Zealand.
Running from April 7th to 16th, the nationwide hunt will see 50 top-selling bikes hidden in plain sight across 10 cities, including Adelaide, just waiting to be discovered.
Each day, a cryptic clue will drop on the Pedal Bikes Instagram, sending participants on a city-wide chase to track down a hidden bike. The first five people to crack the clue, make it to the location and unlock the bike using the correct combination will ride away with the prize.
It’s a simple concept, but one that’s captured the imagination of thousands since it first launched in Brisbane back in 2014. What started as a local activation has grown into a full-scale national campaign, and in 2026 it’s going even further, expanding internationally for the first time with Auckland joining the lineup.
Adelaide is set to host its leg of the hunt on April 14th, meaning locals will have one day only to get in on the action.
“What started as a local experiment in Brisbane has grown into something that still gives us goosebumps. Every day at 99 Bikes, we see what happens when someone finds the right bike, be it the commuter who finally ditches the car, the weekend rider who rediscovers a childhood love, the person who just needed a reason to start. That’s what we show up for,” shared 99 Bikes General Manager, David Heidke.
“Being able to hand 50 people that feeling for free this Easter, no catch, just a bike and an open road, is something we don’t take for granted. And this year, we’re taking it to New Zealand for the first time. We can’t wait.”
The campaign also taps into something bigger by getting people outdoors and moving. With school holidays almost in full swing, it’s the perfect time for families to swap screens for fresh air and rediscover just how fun riding together can be.
“Cycling is one of the best value family activities you can do, and these school holidays are the perfect time to rediscover that. Once you’ve got a bike, it costs you nothing to ride. No fuel, no parking, no fare. The Pedal Heist creates a moment that reminds families how much fun riding together actually is, and hopefully plants a seed that sticks well beyond Easter,” added David.
The 2026 event will travel from the Sunshine Coast through to Perth, before wrapping up in Auckland, marking its most ambitious run yet.
If you’re keen to join the fun, keep an eye on @pedalbikes_anz and @99bikes for daily clues.
