Marathons in New Zealand 2026: Routes, Dates & Elevation

New Zealand is home to 7 marathons in our database, spread across cities including Auckland, Christchurch, Karapiro, and Napier, and more.

Auckland Marathon is the largest race in the lineup, typically drawing around 7,000 finishers, while the full spread offers everything from fast urban courses to scenic regional events.

Browse the races below for course maps, elevation profiles, typical weather, and practical race-day detail to help you choose your next start line.

AucklandNew Zealand

Auckland Marathon

The Auckland Marathon draws approximately 7,000 finishers on an urban road in Auckland, New Zealand. The course starts at Devonport and finishes at Victoria Park in the city centre, crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Next race: Sunday, 1 November 2026

QueenstownNew Zealand

Queenstown Marathon

The Queenstown Marathon is New Zealand's most scenic destination race, drawing about 4,500 finishers each November on a net-downhill point-to-point from Tekapo to Queenstown. The course follows the shores of Lake Wakatipu and passes through Gibbston Valley wine country with Remarkables mountain views. November late-spring weather and alpine scenery make it a bucket-list Oceania marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 15 November 2026

WellingtonNew Zealand

Wellington Marathon

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

ChristchurchNew Zealand

Christchurch Marathon

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.

Next race: Sunday, 6 June 2027

RotoruaNew Zealand

Rotorua Marathon

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. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.

Next race: Saturday, 1 May 2027

NapierNew Zealand

Hawke's Bay Marathon

The Hawke's Bay Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Napier, New Zealand. Wine country and autumn weather make it one of New Zealand's most appealing destination marathons. The route passes vineyards, orchard country, and coastal Hawke's Bay scenery. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.

Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027

KarapiroNew Zealand

Karapiro Marathon

The Karapiro Marathon draws approximately 1,200 finishers each April on a lake road in Karapiro, New Zealand. It is a newer Waikato full marathon that gives New Zealand runners a calm lake-side alternative to the bigger city events. The route passes lake-edge roads, rural Waikato scenery, and long smooth stretches around Lake Karapiro. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.

Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027