Thirty-five teams of two arrived in Queenstown onSaturday afternoon, marking the end of the 2012 $10Queenstown Challenge to Cure Kids.
Among them were Dunedin parents Andrew and Janelle Quigley, whose son Tobias is thought to be the only New Zealander with the rare Cantu Syndrome.
After being transported by bus from Oamaru, competitors - who had just $10 to spend over the three-day race - arrived at Gibbston Valley Winery for their final challenge - one member of each team racing with a mouthful of wine, kneeling and filling a wine glass to the tasting mark without spilling it.
The other member of the team was blindfolded and, carrying the plastic wine glass on a tray without spilling it, guided to the finish line.
After a spin on the KJet boats, the teams were then led by a piper along the Queenstown waterfront in bitter conditions to Hotel St Moritz, where members of Queenstown's Kiwi Haka group performed an official Maori welcome.
In response, the 70 competitors performed a rousing haka to the delight of hotel staff, Cure Kids representatives and supporters.
Cure Kids fundraising and business development director Josie Spillane said the challenge was won by "Ready Teddy Go", Poni Sula and Aaron Ward, of Auckland.
"We raised an incredible amount of money and it just goes to show the generosity and support of New Zealanders nationwide.
"With Cure Kids you don't have to look very far to find a child that's been affected by a life-threatening illness and it's incredible to have these teams going through the country and spreading the message and having a bit of fun along the way."
Mrs Spillane said while the fun-filled race was an experience competitors would never forget, there was a "serious cause" behind it.
"Who knows what's going to happen because of that money?
"You never know what dollar is going to fund a cure."
