Race Across New Zealand was the first of three telefilms made for the Rocket Power cartoon series, first transmitted on Nickelodeon in the US on 16 Feb 2002, during the 2002 Winter Olympics. The plotline entails the Rocket Power gang's trip to New Zealand to participate in "The Junior Waikikamukau Games", with Otto Rocket competing against the son of an athlete who once beat his father Ray at a race in New Zealand (allegedly by cheating), and his sister Reggie's attempts to get herself noticed by Ray, who is constantly cheering for Otto exclusively. Sports featured in this telefilm include zorbing, mountain biking, tubing, dirtboarding, windsurfing, and snowboarding.

Armed with a spirit for adventure, Otto Rocket, Reggie, Twister and Sam embark on a Hawaiian extreme sporting escapade. But amid the killer surfing and skating, the gang also finds a spooky spirit in the jungle.

The gang anticipates the opening of Zero Gravity Zone; planning begins for Ray and Noelani's wedding.