Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
The Christchurch Marathon draws approximately 2,800 finishers on an urban road in Christchurch, New Zealand. The course starts and finishes at Cathedral Square. The route follows the Avon River and passes Hagley Park and the Port Hills foothills. Mostly flat through the rebuilt city centre.
Christchurch Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Christchurch Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 6 June 2027 with a 8:30 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 40 m of climbing on a mostly flat with gentle undulations layout.
The Christchurch Marathon is a flat loop starting and finishing at Cathedral Square, following the Avon River past Hagley Park and toward the Port Hills foothills. Gentle undulations are the only real terrain change, and spectators line Cathedral Square and the riverside paths through Hagley Park.
The Christchurch Marathon course is mostly flat with gentle undulations over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 40 metres of climbing and 40 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
The Christchurch Marathon uses open online registration at christchurchmarathon.co.nz for the April race. The field of roughly 2,800 finishers is allocated first-come, first-served with no ballot or qualifying time required. Early registration secures lower entry fees before the rebuilt city-centre course sells out.
Race-day footage from the course to help you picture the route, crowds, and key landmarks on marathon day.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Christchurch.
The Wellington Marathon draws approximately 3,000 finishers on an urban road in Wellington, New Zealand. The course starts and finishes at the Cenotaph. Mostly flat with exposed windy sections along the coast.
Next race: Sunday, 27 June 2027
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Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
The Rotorua Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each May on a lake road in Rotorua, New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand's most traditional marathons and is closely tied to Rotorua's geothermal identity. The course circles geothermal landscapes, lake roads, and forest-edge sections around Lake Rotorua. Geothermal landscapes and forest-edge sections roll around Lake Rotorua, tying one of New Zealand's most traditional marathons to its volcanic identity.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
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