New Zealand · Road running
New Zealand road marathons
New Zealand’s road marathons offer city streets, waterfront stretches and countryside courses across both main islands. Compare race dates, routes, entry options and previous results before choosing your 42.195 kilometres. The scenery may help with the harder miles; it is less likely to help with the pacing.
9 race guides · 42.195 km / 26.2 miles · Dates through 2027
Upcoming marathon dates
Find road marathons taking place between now and the end of 2027. Compare the location and approximate field, then open a race guide for entry options, course maps and previous results. Runner numbers refer to the year shown; Unknown means a reliable estimate is not available.
| Date | Marathon | City / location | Region | Approximate field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon | Auckland | Auckland | Around 2,800Finishers · 2025 | |
| PAK'nSAVE Whanganui 3 Bridges Marathon | Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui | Around 100Finishers · 2025 | |
| Buller Gorge Marathon | Westport | West Coast | Around 110Finishers · 2026 | |
| ASICS Christchurch Marathon | Christchurch | Canterbury | Around 1,300Entrants · 2026 | |
| Red Stag Rotorua Marathon | Rotorua | Bay of Plenty | Around 900Finishers · 2026 | |
| Run Akaroa — The Grand Hotel Marathon | Akaroa | Canterbury | Around 110Finishers · 2026 | |
| Urban Estates Selwyn Marathon | Lincoln | Canterbury | Unknown | |
| Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon | Wellington | Wellington | Around 500Entrants · 2026 |
Race dates TBC (1)
- Emerson's Dunedin Marathon · Dunedin, Otago — TBC — awaiting confirmation
Choosing a road marathon in New Zealand
Pick the setting and check the surface
Waterfront roads, city streets and countryside routes offer different versions of a New Zealand marathon. Read the surface notes alongside the scenery: the wider running calendar includes mixed-terrain events, while this selection concentrates on road marathons. Use the regional directory and course links to compare the actual route, including any paved paths and the approach to the finish.
Build the weekend around the race timetable
A point-to-point route can turn a simple morning out into a small transport operation. Check whether the organiser provides a bus, where you collect your number and whether collection is available on race morning. Confirm the full-marathon date before making travel arrangements between regions or islands. The scenery can wait; the start usually will not.
Browse by region
Find a race in your area, or compare the options for a trip. Routes may cross regional boundaries.
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Canterbury
Manawatū-Whanganui
Otago
Wellington
West Coast
Explore the races
Auckland
Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon
Devonport via Takapuna, the Northern Busway and Harbour Bridge, then the waterfront to St Heliers and back to Victoria Park.
Course: Rolling first half; flatter second half with small bridge rises
Entry routes: General entry
Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon guideChristchurch, Canterbury
ASICS Christchurch Marathon
The planned 2027 route is two laps from Park Terrace through the central city and Hagley Park; final route approval remains pending.
Course: Flat
Entry routes: General entry
ASICS Christchurch Marathon guideWellington
Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon
Two harbour laps from Hnry Stadium through the CBD, Oriental Parade and Evans Bay towards the Miramar Peninsula.
Course: Flat apart from the stadium access ramp
Entry routes: General entry
Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon guideRotorua, Bay of Plenty
Red Stag Rotorua Marathon
One anti-clockwise lap of Lake Rotorua in 2027, with a lakefront start area and finish outside Novotel Rotorua Lakeside.
Course: Lake circuit with changes of elevation
Entry routes: General entry
Red Stag Rotorua Marathon guideDunedin, Otago
Emerson's Dunedin Marathon
Portobello Recreation Reserve, a Harwood loop and peninsula turnaround, then the harbour shared path and city streets to Emerson's Brewery.
Course: Gentle inclines early; mostly flat second half
Entry routes: Organiser entry updates
Emerson's Dunedin Marathon guideWestport, West Coast
Buller Gorge Marathon
Hawks Crag towards Berlins, then back down the Buller Gorge Highway to Victoria Square in Westport.
Course: Undulating, with three principal hills
Entry routes: General entry
Buller Gorge Marathon guideAkaroa, Canterbury
Run Akaroa — The Grand Hotel Marathon
Summit Road above Little Akaloa, an out-and-back towards Hilltop, then around the rim and down Long Bay Road to Akaroa.
Course: Undulating ridge road followed by a seven-kilometre descent
Entry routes: General entry
Run Akaroa — The Grand Hotel Marathon guideLincoln, Canterbury
Urban Estates Selwyn Marathon
Two laps from Lincoln Event Centre through Lincoln, surrounding country roads and Rossendale Wines.
Course: Flat
Entry routes: General entry
Urban Estates Selwyn Marathon guideWhanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui
PAK'nSAVE Whanganui 3 Bridges Marathon
A lap-based course on Whanganui's public roads and footpaths, starting and finishing at Kowhai Park; consult the organiser's maps for the current bridge routing.
Course: River-side circuit with bridge crossings
Entry routes: General full-marathon entry · Athletics NZ championship entry
PAK'nSAVE Whanganui 3 Bridges Marathon guideCommon questions
Which road marathons are included in this New Zealand guide?
This AthRecs guide includes 9 road marathons in New Zealand, including Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon, ASICS Christchurch Marathon, Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon, Red Stag Rotorua Marathon, Emerson's Dunedin Marathon. Open a race guide for its course, entry options, dates and previous results.
When are the next road marathons in New Zealand?
The next confirmed dates in this guide are Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon on 1 Nov 2026; PAK'nSAVE Whanganui 3 Bridges Marathon on 6 Dec 2026; Buller Gorge Marathon on 13 Feb 2027. All dates are local to the race.
How do I enter a road marathon in New Zealand?
Open an individual race guide to compare its entry methods and eligibility rules. Follow the official entry links for registration windows, qualifying requirements, fees and available places.
How can I compare road marathon courses in New Zealand?
Use the course summaries to compare terrain, surface and start-to-finish arrangements, then open the individual guide for official maps. A net-downhill course is not necessarily flat, and a road race may include paved paths or a track finish. Check the receiving event’s rules if you need a qualifying time.
Are the approximate fields the number of people who entered?
Each figure states its basis and year. Entrants, starters and finishers are different counts; a previous finishing field is a guide to scale, not an entry total or a guaranteed future field. Figures are approximate, and Unknown means a reliable estimate is not available. They are not multi-year averages unless explicitly described that way.
Where can I find past race and category results?
Each race guide links to the organiser’s results. Choose the correct distance and edition to find a runner or published category standings.