Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB

The Tarawera Ultra Trail by UTMB is the flagship trail running event of New Zealand, set in the geothermal heartland of the North Island's Bay of Plenty region. The point to point courses begin in Kawerau and carry runners through an extraordinary tapestry of landscapes: native bush born from the ashes of the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption, shores of crystal clear volcanic lakes, dense podocarp forests, and the iconic redwood groves of Whakarewarewa. With distances ranging from 14 km to the full 100 mile TMiler, the event welcomes both newcomers and seasoned ultra runners alike.

What sets this race apart is the sheer diversity of terrain packed into a single course. Runners trace the shores of up to eight different lakes, pass the thundering Tarawera Falls, cross geothermal zones where steam rises from the earth at Sulphur Point, and explore the archaeological site of the Buried Village. The trails are predominantly smooth and runnable, winding through some of the lushest forests in the Southern Hemisphere, with Mount Tarawera's volcanic ridgeline as a constant, dramatic backdrop.

Part of the UTMB World Series, the Tarawera Ultra Trail has grown into a truly international gathering, attracting thousands of runners from over 80 countries. The finish at the Village Green in downtown Rotorua, surrounded by the warmth of Māori culture and the buzz of a passionate trail running community, makes this one of the most celebrated ultra trail experiences on the planet.