Triathlon
TriathlonNew Zealand
IRONMAN New Zealand
Taupō, Bay of Plenty·Date to be confirmed
The southern hemisphere's oldest IRONMAN, raced on the shores of Lake Taupō.
RunningNew Zealand
Motatapu Off-Road Marathon
Wānaka to Arrowtown, Otago·Date to be confirmed·Off-Road Marathon (42 km) / Trail Half Marathon (21 km) / Ultra Run (51 km)
Col de Sud is an independent coaching and information platform. Event details may change. Always confirm dates, entry requirements and course information with the official event organiser.
Quick Information
At a glance.
Location
📍 Wānaka to Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand
Usually Held
🗓 Early March
2026 Event Date
Date to be confirmed
Distances
Off-Road Marathon (42 km) · Trail Half Marathon (21 km) · Ultra Run (51 km)
Course Type
Trail
Difficulty
Advanced
Entries
Date to be confirmed
Official Website
Last Updated
November 2025
Countdown
Race date to be confirmed
Preparing for this event?
Recommended plan: 20 Week Trail Marathon Build.
- ✔Trail-experienced runners
- ✔First off-road marathon
- ✔Ultra bridging
Overview
The event.
Motatapu is one of New Zealand's most iconic backcountry events. Held on land normally closed to the public — Motatapu and Soho stations, gifted for a single day each year — the off-road marathon runs 42km from Glendhu Bay outside Wānaka, over the Motatapu Valley and down to historic Arrowtown. Expect river crossings, tussock ridges, steep climbs and vast open high country. This is not a fast marathon. It is a mountain journey with a finish line.
Small field, hardy runners, and the raw silence of the Southern Alps broken only by boots on gravel and rivers.
Who it suitsExperienced trail runners who want a big-day mountain adventure. Not a first marathon.
Distances
Off-Road Marathon (42 km)
Trail Half Marathon (21 km)
Ultra Run (51 km)
Course Breakdown
The route.
- Course profile
- Serious. Around 1,400m of climbing across the marathon with sustained ascents in the first half.
- Surface
- 4WD track, singletrack and tussock; multiple river crossings.
- Elevation
- To be confirmed
- Aid stations
- Approximately every 8–10km — carry water and food between them.
- Expected conditions
- Late-summer alpine — anything from hot sun to sudden storm.
Difficulty Snapshot
Col de Sud assessment.
Endurance
Climbing
Technical
Weather exposure
Beginner suitability
General Col de Sud assessment — not an official event rating.
Typical Conditions
What to expect.
- Temperature
- 8–24°C
- Humidity
- Low
- Wind
- Can be strong on ridges
- Rain likelihood
- Possible
- Water temperature
- TBC
- Altitude
- Up to 1,100m
How to Train
Preparing your body.
Recommended preparation
20 weeks with a strong hiking and vertical component.
Long sessions
5–7 hour trail long runs with 1,200m+ of climbing.
Strength training
Twice-weekly strength focused on eccentric quads and calf endurance.
Recovery
Structured down weeks every fourth week — mountain fatigue accumulates.
Course-specific prep
Practise river crossings and sustained hiking on steep terrain.
Nutrition practice
Rehearse solid food alongside gels — 6+ hour days need variety.
Equipment testing
Trail shoes with grip, mandatory kit including thermal, jacket, first aid.
Key weekly sessions
- — Long trail run with climbing
- — Hill repeats
- — Threshold on rolling trail
- — Strength
- — Recovery hike
Race Weekend Guide
Plan your trip.
Travel
Fly to Queenstown (ZQN), drive one hour to Wānaka.
Accommodation
Wānaka is the base — book early. Some runners stay in Cardrona or Arrowtown.
Packet collection
Pre-race briefing and pack check on Friday evening in Wānaka.
Parking
Free at the Glendhu Bay start line.
Public transport
Shuttle buses return runners from Arrowtown to Wānaka after the race.
Weather
Alpine — sun and heat one hour, storm the next. Mandatory kit is enforced.
What to pack
Mandatory kit including waterproof jacket, thermal, whistle, food and water.
Nutrition
Carry more than you think you need — remote course, few aid stations.
Recovery
Lake Wānaka swim, hot pools at Onsen Retreat.
Local cafés
Big Fig or Federal Diner in Wānaka; Provisions in Arrowtown.
After the race
Stay for the Southern Lakes — cycle the Wānaka trails, hike Roys Peak, drive Crown Range.
Frequently Asked
Questions we hear.
Is Motatapu a marathon or an ultra?+
There is an off-road marathon (42km), a half marathon (21km) and a 51km ultra option.
Is it beginner friendly?+
No — Motatapu is a serious mountain event. Runners should have solid trail experience and prior off-road long runs.
How much climbing is on the course?+
Around 1,400m of elevation gain across the marathon distance.
What is the mandatory kit?+
A waterproof jacket, thermal top, whistle, first-aid basics, food and water. The list is enforced at kit check.
When does the event run?+
Early March each year, staged across a single Saturday.
Col de Sud Coaching
Train for your next mountain.
Preparing for this event? Col de Sud can help you build a realistic plan around your fitness, experience, work and family commitments.
Related Events
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Last details checked: November 2025