Trail Run Course Information

The two longest distances start at Mangapohue Natural Bridge, and traverses the most unique  geological line in New Zealand (or indeed the world). The 21km finishes on Stubbs Farm and the 35km continues on to finish at the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Visitors Centre.

Runners and walkers will pass through the deep forested gorge of the Ruakuri Caves and Bush Scenic Reserve with towering limestone cliffs. A smooth trail along the Waitomo stream takes everyone back to the award-winning Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitors Centre.

 

 

The Four Distances

6km Short: Ruakuri  

This adventure starts inside the Ruakuri Caves and takes you up the spiral staircase into Ruakuri Reserve. In the reserve, you will run underneath towering limestone formations, over bridges and under short tunnels. You exit via the easy and flat Waitomo Trail to the finish line at the Waitomo Glowworm Visitors Centre.

Start: Ruakuri Cave |  Finish:  Glowworm Caves Visitors Centre | Loop + one-way to the finish line 

Aid Stations:1

Hills: One – mostly moderate, short

Roots and rocks: Virtually nil.

Type: Well-formed DOC tracks and nature walks 100%

Vegetation: Native Forest 50 % | Planted natives and farmland 50%

Recommended shoes: Trail or Road.

Child Friendly: Yes. All ages. Strollers are not recommended.

Fastest finisher time: 23 minutes

Average time: 58 minutes

Last finisher: 2:13 hours

 

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11km Medium: Stubbs Farm

This adventure starts and finishes on Stubbs Farm, Te Anga Road. You begin by traversing some of the most karst-rich landscapes in the world (indeed the highest concentration of doline land formations on the planet) on the fantastic Stubbs farm. An adventurous climb over some limestone rock takes you to Frog Pond aid station. From here, you enter the beautiful native bush on the QEII block. You can turn left and explore Stubbs Canyon (an optional out and back – but well worth it), where you can peer into the cavern's darkness at the far end. You traverse the rocky ridge to the hole in the rock (there is an optional bypass for the claustrophobic), enjoy the views along the roller coaster, and from there, it’s all downhill through the native bush (on the Love Track) back to the finish line.

There is an option to complete this as a 6km run or walk – if you are participating with younger family members or have a shorter run.

Start: Stubbs Farm |  Finish: Stubbs Farm | Two different loops (more or less a figure 8).

Aid Stations: 1 (Frog Pond)

Hills: Numerous short and steep

Roots and rocks: Yes. Uneven terrain on farm tracks.

Type: Farmland tracks  60% |  Single track in the native bush (some of it technical) 40%

Vegetation: Farms 60% Native Forest 40 %

Recommended shoes: Trail

Child Friendly: Yes, 5 years+ children can run and walk for 2-3 hours or more. Not suitable for pre-schoolers.

Fastest finisher time: 46 minutes

Average time: 2:39 hours

Last finisher: 5:45 hours

 

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21km Half Marathon 

This adventure starts at Mangapohue Natural Tunnel, through farmland and along DOC tracks that wind along the Marokopa River. Cross the side creek and through the jaw-dropping Marakopa natural tunnel.  You emerge through sheep farms and view karst formations the entire journey to Frog Pond on Stubbs Farm. On Stubbs Farm, you dip and climb past sinkholes along amazing karst formations through a working sheep farm and into the QEII Covenant protected native bush – home to canyons, karst, rocky ridges and caves and custom-made bush trails. The 21km finishes on Stubbs Farm.

Start Mangapohue Natural Tunnel |  Finish: Stubbs Farm | Point to point.

Aid Stations: 2 (Kokokoroa & Frog Pond)

Hills: Lots.

Roots and rocks: Yes. Uneven terrain on farm tracks.

Type: Farm tracks: 65% | Bush trails  35% |

Vegetation: Farmland 65% | Native Forest 35 %

Recommended shoes: Trail.

Child Friendly: Ages 13+ with prior trail running experience.

Fastest finisher time: 2:20 hours

Average time: 5:31 hours

Last finisher: 9:30 hours

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35km Super-Long 

This adventure starts at Mangapohue natural tunnel, through farmland and DOC tracks that wind along the Marokopa River. Cross the side creek and through the jaw-dropping Marakopa natural tunnel.  You emerge through sheep farms and view karst formations the entire journey to Frog Pond on Stubbs Farm. From here, you are led into QEII Covenant-protected native bush – home to canyons, karst, rocky ridges, caves, and custom-made bush trails. Exiting Stubbs farm, you bomb downhill through several farms before the finish line at the Waitomo Glowworm Visitors Centre.

Recommend that runners and walkers have a good fitness level and are comfortable on bush tracks, uneven ground and possibly muddy terrain.

Start Mangapohue Natural Tunnel, |  Finish: Glowworm Caves Visitors Centre | Point to point.

Aid Stations: 3 

Hills: Lots.

Roots and rocks: Yes. Uneven terrain on farm tracks.

Type: Farm tracks: 45% | Bush trails  50% | Well-formed DOC tracks and nature walk 5%

Vegetation: Farmland 60% | Native Forest 40 %

Recommended shoes: Trail.

Child Friendly: Ages 16+ with considerable prior trail running experience.  Expect this run to take 1-3 hours longer than a standard marathon.

Cutoff: 2:30 pm at Stubbs farm airstrip.

Fastest finisher time: 3:23 hours

Average time: 6:20 hours

Last finisher: 9:14 hours

 

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All runners and walkers in the 11k get to enjoy the views from Rocky Ridge on Stubbs Farm.