New Zealand
My Next Challenge helps you find your next running event in New Zealand. Whether you are looking for a fun run for the family, your next marathon or half marathon, ultra-distance run, trail run, bucket list runs through vineyards, along beaches or up mountains, challenge yourself, be inspired and get active!
105 Run events
Devonport Auckland
The Cargo Plus Coastal Challenge gives participants the chance to run, walk, wade, and rock hop all the way down Auckland’s extraordinary North Shore coastline.
Walter Peak Station, Queenstown Otago
The second Walter Peak High Country Run will take place on the 27th of February 2021. After crossing Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, participants will depart at Walter Peak Station. On offer is a 10km and 5km trail run offering spectacular views of the lake and mountains.
Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch Canterbury
The Christchurch Motorway Half Marathon will return on the 28th of February 2021, starting and finishing at Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub. This is an amazing course and with no vehicles, allows runners and walkers to concentrate on their running.
St Heliers Bay Auckland
Ports of Auckland Round the Bays is New Zealand’s largest fun run, boasting over 29,000 participants each year - and growing! Our home is the vibrant city of Auckland, with the 8. 4km course following the city’s picturesque coastline.
The Domain Auckland
The YMCA Marathon Club hosts a weekly summer series in Auckland's Domain on Thursday evenings from October through to April. Runners and walkers can choose from 5km or 10km distances. Entry is $5 for adults and $2 for kids.
Queenstown Otago
The iconic Motatapu returns in 2021 on 6th March with four iconic races, the 47km Mountain Bike Race, 15km Miners Trail, 42km Marathon and 51km Ultra Run.
Cable Bay Adventure Park Nelson Marlborough Tasman
Ultra NZ is an Ultra Series tackling New Zealand’s best terrain. Looking for your next Ultra or want to find your endurance limit? Ultra 24 gives you the chance to run as far as you can over 24 hours. 1 course, 24 hours of racing.
Whakawerawera Forest, Rotorua Bay of Plenty
The Copthorne Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon takes place in stunning Whakawerawera Forest in Rotorua on the 7th of March 2021. Distances on offer include the Half Marathon run as well as a 10. 5km and 5km run /walk and a 1. 5km and 2. 5km Kids Run.
Victoria Square, Cambridge Waikato
The Waipa Fun Run will return to Victoria Square, Cambridge on the 7th of March 2021 and offers a 10km, 5km and 2km schools challenge. The event is a fundraiser for St Peters Catholic School.
The Domain Auckland
The YMCA Marathon Club hosts a weekly summer series in Auckland's Domain on Thursday evenings from October through to April. Runners and walkers can choose from 5km or 10km distances. Entry is $5 for adults and $2 for kids.
Mount Maunganui Bay of Plenty
We Run the Night will return to Mount Maunganui on the 13th of March 2021. The distances include a 21km half marathon, 10km and 5km. Runners are encouraged to wear their own bright lights, to dress up and run the night. All distances can be run or walked.
Marchant Road, Kaitoke Wellington
Due to a slip at Blue Bluff on Otaki Gorge road, and the subsequent road closure for the foreseeable future, the course for the 2021 race will NOT be the traditional Southern Crossing.
Riverhead Forest Auckland
Eukanuba Tails and Trails is a 5km and 10km run or walk in Riverhead for canines of all sizes & abilities and their two-legged friends.
Maraetai Auckland
Taking place on the 14th of March 2021, the Maraetai Half Marathon offers a half marathon, 10km, 5km run/ walk and a 2km kids dash on Auckland's beautiful Pohutukawa coast.
The Domain Auckland
The YMCA Marathon Club hosts a weekly summer series in Auckland's Domain on Thursday evenings from October through to April. Runners and walkers can choose from 5km or 10km distances. Entry is $5 for adults and $2 for kids.
Martinborough Wellington
The Martinborough Round the Vines event will take place on the 20th of March 2021.
Round the Vines is a fundraiser for Martinborough School. The event offers a half marathon and 10km which can be run or walked.
Kaiteriteri Beach Nelson Marlborough Tasman
A challenging Half Marathon and 14km courses - it has a couple of good climbs in there, but these can be forgiven when you consider you are running or walking in pure paradise. Your climbs lead you to magic views over bay and beyond.
Northburn Otago
The Northburn 100 will return in 2021 on the 20-21st March 2021 after the 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The event offers a 100 miler, 100km and 50km ultra distance runs as well as a marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km and a kids race.
Foxton Beach, Foxton Manawatu-Whanganui
Footprints in the Sand Lions Club of Foxton Half Marathon and Fun Run will be held on the 21st of March 2021. The annual event is held on Foxton Beach and offers a Half Marathon run as well as a 10km and 5km run or walk.
Albany Auckland
Run Albany will return on the 21st of March 2021. The event is the third and final race in the North Shore Run Series. Distances on offer throughout the series include 15km, 10km, 5km & 2km.
Christchurch Canterbury
The Les Mills City2Surf which was due to take place on Sunday, 22nd March, 2020 has been postponed to the 21st of March 2021.
The event offers a 14km and 6km fun run.
The Domain Auckland
The YMCA Marathon Club hosts a weekly summer series in Auckland's Domain on Thursday evenings from October through to April. Runners and walkers can choose from 5km or 10km distances. Entry is $5 for adults and $2 for kids.
Whenuapai Auckland
The Shoe Science Whenuapai Half Marathon will take place on the 28th of March 2021.
The Shoe Science Whenuapai Half Marathon is a fundraiser for the Massey Athletic Club and offers a half marathon, 10km, 6km and 2km kids run.
Lake Hayes, Queenstown Otago
Save the date in your diary for the Lake Hayes Run on the 2nd of April 2021. The event is held annually over Easter each year at the stunning Lake Hayes in Queenstown. The event offers a Half Marathon, 10km & 5km trail run.
Bottle Lake Forest, Christchurch Canterbury
The Forest Run Fest will take place on the 3rd of April 2021.
A morning for all levels of walkers and runners, get out there, compete and breathe in the fresh forest air with your family and friends.
Mt Arrowsmith Woolshed Canterbury
The Arrowsmith Races Marathon and MTB Race will take place on the 10th of April 2021. On offer is a marathon run or mountain bike course as well as a Duathlon. There are shorter 17km and 10-11km running distances also available.
Rangitoto Island Auckland
The Dual Mototapu-Rangitoto Traverse is your only chance in the year to do an event or mountain bike on Mototapu and Rangitoto islands. The event includes a trail run/walk, MTB, and off-road triathlon options as well as a kids dash.
Queenstown Events Centre, Frankton Otago
Colour Burst Queenstown 2021 is a 4km colour run held in Frankton, Queenstown. The date has been set for the 11th of April 2021. The course takes in Queenstown's stunning mountain scenery whilst participants are doused with coloured powder.
Christchurch Canterbury
The Christchurch Marathon will return on the 11th of April 2021. Inspired by the 1974 Commonwealth Games marathon, the ASB Christchurch Marathon has been the South Island’s premier marathon event since 1981.
Mission Bay Auckland
The Mizuno Waterfront Half Marathon will take place on the 11th of April 2021.
The Mizuno Waterfront Half Marathon held in Mission Bay, Auckland is the final event in the Mizuno Auckland Half Marathon Series.
Tauranga Bay of Plenty
Returning on the 11th of April 2021, the Pay What You Want Tauranga Half Marathon offers a Half Marathon, 15km, 10km, 5km and 1km. The Half Marathon course has been measured to IAAF standards and is a two lap course which includes Beach Road, Harbour Drive and Kulim Park.
Riverhead Forest Auckland
The Riverhead Backyard Relaps Ultra is a last person standing format event where participants run one 6. 7km lap an hour until the last person is standing. The event also includes an 8 hour, 12 hour and 24 hour teams relay.
Lake Rotoiti Nelson Marlborough Tasman
The Alpine Lodge Loop the Lake is a fantastic introduction to trail running - many runners have had their first taste of off road running by completing this one. The course is an anticlockwise circuit of Lake Rotoiti commencing from the Lake Rotoiti waterfront. Approximately 25km.
Mt Oxford Canterbury
Mt Oxford Odyssey will return on the 17th of April 2021 following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to Covid-19.
Marina Park Gisborne
The Gisborne Quarter Marathon will take place on the 18th of April 2021. The Gisborne Quarter Marathon is a 10km fun run or walk held in Marina Park, Gisborne. The event also offers a 5. 6km fun run.
Te Anau Southland
The Routeburn Classic Adventure Run held in late April annually is an exclusive event and limited to 350 lucky athletes. The track is 32 Kilometers long and climbs to 1127meters above sea level.
Arrowtown Otago
The Arrowtown Autumn Festival Fun Run will return in 2021 on the 25th of April. There are two running and walking events to choose from. ‘Tobins Rush' is a 5km run to the top of Arrowtown’s popular walking track and back.
Hanmer Springs Canterbury
The Hanmer Half Marathon due to take place on the 2nd of May 2020 has been postponed to the 1st of May 2021. The Hanmer Half Marathon takes competitors on a unique journey through Hanmer Forest amongst amazing mountain scenery.
Tongariro National Park Manawatu-Whanganui
The T42 due to take place on the 2nd of May 2020 has been postponed to the 1st of May 2021.
The iconic event takes place in beautiful Tongariro National Park and offers trail run and walking options as well as a mountain bike or eBike off-road adventure.
Hokitika West Coast
The South Island Ultra Marathon will be held on Saturday 8th May 2021 on the West Coast Wilderness Trail on the West Coast of the South Island.
Wairau Valley Nelson Marlborough Tasman
The Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon due to take place on the 9th of May 2020 has been postponed until the 8th of May 2021. The Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon takes place amoungst the vineyards in the gorgeous Marlborough region in New Zealand.
Rotorua Bay of Plenty
Australasia's oldest marathon event, the Rotorua Marathon will take place on the 8th of May 2021. Celebrating its 57th running, the event offers a Marathon, Half Marathon as well as a 10km and 5. 5km run or walk.
Christchurch Canterbury
Race 2 of the Christchurch 10km Series will take place at New Brighton on the 9th of May 2021. The Series will take place across the year with 2 day and 2 night events. In 2021 the series will be taking participants across the world with themed races.
Hanmer Springs Canterbury
The Old Forest Hanmer 100 will return on the 14-15th of May 2021. A fully achievable forest trail ultra-run, great for those wanting to try off road ultra's or step up to new distances for the first time but still enough to keep the old hands occupied.
Napier Hawkes Bay
The New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Hawke's Bay Marathon due to take place on the 19th of September 2020 has been postponed until the 15th of May 2021. Distances on offer include a marathon, half marathon, 10km and 3km kids run.
Huntly Waikato
The Huntly Half Marathon will take place on the 16th of May 2021. The event includes a half marathon, 10km, 5km as well as a 2km kids run. All distances can be run or walked.
Aldinga Bay SA
South Australia’s premier half marathon, 10K & 5K event with a stunning course taking in sections of scrub, wetlands, beach, esplanade & quiet back roads around Aldinga Bay. Our events are open to runners & walkers alike.
Massey University, Palmerston North Manawatu-Whanganui
The Manawatu Striders Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on the 23rd of May 2021. The event offers a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and 5km as well as a Kids MaraFun Race which has two distances available.
Mount Maunganui Bay of Plenty
The Mt Runners and Walkers Half Marathon is due to return on Queen's Birthday weekend in 2021. The event had to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19. The Mt Runners and Walkers Half Marathon offers a half marathon, 10km and 5km.
Mt Difficulty, Cromwell Otago
The Mt Difficult Ascent is an adventure run up Mt Difficulty in Otago. This is a challenging mountain trail ‘run’ with some sections of the ascent between 40-50 degrees as well as a 200m section with a set rope in part of the decent.