Friday 6 November 2026
Legend of the Peaks
Rotorua, Whakarewarewa
The race
About this course
The Legend of the Peaks is an off-road running and walking festival set in Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand, offering a variety of events designed for participants of all fitness levels. The festival includes a kids’ 2km event, 5km, 10km, Half Marathon, Marathon, and culminates with the Whaka Ultra 50K, which serves as the New Zealand Athletics National 50K Championships.
The New Zealand Forest Marathon features a course that circumnavigates the scenic Whakarewarewa Forest, traversing all four prominent peaks: Kohaturoa, Titokorangi, Moerangi, and Kakapiko. The terrain includes a mix of forest trails and off-road paths, providing a challenging experience with significant elevation gain.
The Whaka Ultra 50K offers an extended experience beyond the Marathon, incorporating more technical climbs and single-track trails, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Whakarewarewa Forest.
The festival atmosphere is enhanced by a vibrant site featuring music, food, and an expo, creating a communal space where participants and spectators can relax, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate the achievements of runners and walkers crossing the finish line after their challenging adventures in the forest.
Pick your race
Distances
50K Ultra - 2240m elevation
50km
Marathon - 1950m elevation / 4 Peaks
42.2km
Half Marathon - 950m elevation / 2.5 Peaks
21.1km
10K - 430m elevation / 2 Peaks
10km
5K - 145m elevation / 1 Peak
5km
Kids' 2K & 3K
2km
2K & 3K
2km
What to expect
Race day conditions
Terrain and altitude come from the course. Weather is a ten-year average for this date, not a forecast.
Weather data by Open-Meteo(opens in a new tab).
Getting there
Event location
33 Waipa State Mill Road, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3073, New ZealandGet directions(opens in a new tab)
From runners
What runners wish they’d known
Event details and map location come from public information on the official event website(opens in a new tab). If a listing looks out of date, or you need exact start lines and course maps, check the official source or email [email protected].
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Questions about this race?
Ask the NZ Running community about the course, parking, and what race day is like at Legend of the Peaks.