Kawerau, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand · Saturday, February 13, 2027

100K

Tarawera Ultramarathon

98 days away
102 km Distance
2,300 m Climbing
8.6 Grit · Elite / extreme
Register with organiserRegister ↗ Add to calendar
38.0889° S, 176.7000° E© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 23 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.
Time limit 30 hours 17:39 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Among the most forgiving 100K cut-offs we track. Measured against 233 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~777 Very large. Congested start, busy aid stations.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (103km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, February

Daytime high 24°C
Night low 16°C
Rainfall Mostly dry
Daylight 13 h 37 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for February — NASA POWER, grid elevation 151 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert
👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert
🥤 nutrition

For 100km+ efforts, prioritize real food at aid stations to prevent palate fatigue.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 102 km of trail with 2,300 m of ascent.

  • Trail Running Shoes23 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
  • Race NutritionPast 102 km the palate quits before the legs do — carry more than one flavour.
  • Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
  • Trekking Poles2,300 m of ascent to walk up.
  • HeadlampsA 30 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Salomon

Aero Glide 4 Grvl

$159.95 ★★★★★ 4.5

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Spring Energy

Awesome Sauce

Real food gel with 180 calories. Rice-based with natural flavors.

$4 ★★★★★ 4.6

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Nitecore

UT32

Dual-beam trail running headlamp (1100 lumens) with spot and flood beams.

$100 ★★★★★ 4.5
All gear guides →

About

Through ancient forests and along volcanic lakeshores in New Zealand's North Island.

Highlights

  • Volcanic terrain
  • Ancient forest trails
  • Lakeside running

Course Notes

The Tarawera Ultra is a point to point footrace from Kawerau through to Rotorua. The vast majority of the run is on singletrack trails through native bush with less than 10% being on a sealed public road.

Similar races

Other 100K trail ultras, closest in distance first.