About This Race
The 100-mile distance represents Tarawera's ultimate endurance challenge, requiring runners to complete multiple loops of the course while managing pacing and nutrition over what can stretch beyond 20 hours of continuous movement. This distance demands experienced ultra-runners who have mastered the mental and physical demands of covering such terrain repeatedly, transforming the familiar into an exercise in persistence as the same beautiful landscapes take on different moods through day and night. The non-technical nature of the course becomes both blessing and curse at this distance, as the runnable terrain allows for steady forward progress but offers fewer natural rest opportunities that technical sections might provide.
Practical Info
ROT - Rotorua Airport
Event hub located at Village Green on Lakefront Drive in central Rotorua, New Zealand's established tourism center with extensive lodging options.
Best For
Notable Features
Part of the UTMB World Series, Tarawera stands out for its cultural integration with Māori values and traditions, offering runners a deeper connection to the land through indigenous storytelling. The event's commitment to inclusivity and achievability, combined with spectacular lakeside and forest scenery through eight different lakes and native New Zealand bush, creates a uniquely welcoming ultra-trail experience.