Trail running events in New Zealand
Every upcoming trail running event we know about in New Zealand, soonest first. Gathered from organisers' own sites and refreshed regularly. Open one for the date, distance and entry link — and build a free sample training plan for it in a couple of minutes.
Other formats in New Zealand
Triathlons 33Sportives 28Mountain bike events 25Running events 21Bikepacking trips 14Duathlons 14Gravel events 9Swimrun events 3Hyrox events 1Hybrid fitness events 1Multi-day trips 1
Trail running events by country
United States 59United Kingdom 21Australia 15France 6Switzerland 5Italy 4Portugal 1Ecuador 1South Africa 1India 1Romania 1Namibia 1
Mission Mt Somers
Staveley, Canterbury, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event at Mt Somers near Staveley with distances from 5k to marathon. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 1 Nov 2026The Nelson Half Festival of Running
Kaikōura, Canterbury, New Zealand
Trail running21 km
Trail running festival with distances from 2.5k to half marathon. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 6 Nov 2026Legend of the Peaks
Rotorua Lakes District, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Trail running42 km2 days
Two-day trail running festival in the Rotorua Lakes District with distances from 5k to marathon. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 7 Nov 2026Ridge Runner Coromandel
Coromandel, Waikato, New Zealand
Trail running24 km
Trail ridge run in the Coromandel with 12k and 24k options. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 7 Nov 2026Mt Isthmus Traverse
Lake Hāwea, Otago, New Zealand
Trail running44 km
Trail traverse event near Lake Hāwea with distances from 5k to 44k. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 7 Nov 2026Arrowtown Backyard Ultra
Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand
Trail running
Ultra trail backyard ultra event in Arrowtown, Otago. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 7 Nov 2026Lochmara Lodge Half Marathon
Picton, Marlborough, New Zealand
Trail running22 km
Trail half marathon near Lochmara Lodge in Picton, Marlborough. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 7 Nov 2026Hamilton Gardens Trail Run
Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
Trail running17 km
Trail run through Hamilton Gardens with 6k, 12k, and 17k options. Expects 100–500 participants.
Dates and entry → 8 Nov 2026Kāpiti Half Marathon
Waikanae Beach, Wellington, New Zealand
Trail running21 km
Half marathon and shorter distances at Waikanae Beach on the Kāpiti Coast. Expects 500–1,000 participants.
Dates and entry → 15 Nov 2026Aotearoa Afghanistan Marathon
Riverhead, Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Riverhead, Auckland with 100–500 participants offering 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and marathon distances.
Dates and entry → 21 Nov 2026The Poronui Passage
Taharua, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Taharua, Hawke's Bay with 100–500 participants offering half-marathon, marathon, and 12k distances.
Dates and entry → 23 Jan 2027First Light Marathon
Pehiri, Gisborne, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Pehiri, Gisborne with 500–1,000 participants offering half-marathon, marathon, and 6k distances.
Dates and entry → 20 Feb 2027Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon & Trail Runs
Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Queenstown with 500–1,000 participants offering half-marathon, marathon, ultra, and 30k distances.
Dates and entry → 3 Apr 2027Aoraki Mount Cook Marathon
Gammack, Canterbury, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event at Aoraki Mount Cook with 100–500 participants offering 10k, half-marathon, and marathon distances.
Dates and entry → 17 Apr 2027Karāpiro Marathon
Karapiro, Waikato, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Karapiro, Waikato with 500–1,000 participants offering 5k, 10k, half-marathon, marathon, and relay…
Dates and entry → 21-22 March 2026Northburn100 ultra marathon
Central Otago, New Zealand
Trail running161 km2 days
The Northburn100 is a notoriously gritty ultramarathon held at Northburn Station in Central Otago, spanning 100 miles (161 km)…
Dates and entry → November 2026Coastal Five
Taranaki, New Zealand
Trail running21 km
The Coastal Five features five running events spread over two days through the Taranaki region, including Taranaki Maunga…
Dates and entry → Aug, 2027 (TBD)Taupō Marathon
Taupō, Waikato, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Taupō with 1,000–5,000 participants offering 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and marathon distances; Boston…
Dates and entry → 25-26 April 2026Faultline Ultra
Wellington, New Zealand
Trail running161 km2 days
The Faultline Ultra showcases some of the best running and mountain biking tracks across the Wellington region, with six running…
Dates and entry → May, 2027 (TBD)Run the Bay
Paihia, Northland, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Paihia, Northland with 500–1,000 participants offering half-marathon, marathon, 8.7k, and 6k distances.…
Dates and entry → Jun, 2027 (TBD)Kirikiriroa Marathon
Tamahere, Waikato, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail marathon and relay event in Tamahere, Waikato with 500–1,000 participants. Date TBD in June 2027.
Dates and entry → Jul, 2027 (TBD)Nelson Marathon
Nelson, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail marathon and relay event in Nelson with 100–500 participants offering 10k, half-marathon, and marathon distances. Date TBD…
Dates and entry → Saturday, 25 July 2026 to Sunday, 26 July 2026Northland 100
Glenbervie Forest, Whangarei, New Zealand
Trail running2 days
Northland 100 ultra marathon held in Glenbervie Forest, Whangarei over two days.
Dates and entry → 8 August 2026Run the Forest
Rotorua, New Zealand
Trail running21 km
Billed as a 'running festival', Run the Forest features trails through geothermal landscapes and the iconic Redwood Forest in…
Dates and entry → 14-15 February 2026Tarawera Ultra-Trail
Rotorua, New Zealand
Trail running160 km2 days
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB is a celebration of land, culture, and community set in the heart of Rotorua, featuring…
Dates and entry → Jun, 2027 (TBD)Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon
Wellington, New Zealand, New Zealand
Trail running42 km
Trail running event in Wellington with 5,000–10,000 participants offering 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and marathon distances; Boston…
Dates and entry → October 2026Crater Rim Ultra
Christchurch - Canterbury, New Zealand
Trail running53 km
The Crater Rim Ultra offers trail running along the base and ridgelines of an extinct volcano near Christchurch, with a…
Dates and entry →Found one? Get ready for it.
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