The Motatapu

Edition history
Arrowtown, New Zealand
01 Mar, 2025 (Sat)

Trail running

4 km, 15 km, 42.195 km, 52.5 km

Mountain biking

47 km

About the event

The iconic Motatapu returns on Saturday 1 March 2025 with five races:
47km Mondraker Mountain Bike Race,
15km UDC Finance Miners Trail,
42km Allpress Espresso Trail Marathon,
52km Ultra Run,
4km Jennian Homes Junior Trail Run.

Held on one epic day, it is your one chance a year to experience the breathtaking high country terrain and traverse the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations between Wanaka and Queenstown.

It’s a bucket-list off-road event with challenging yet achievable courses, which attracts close to 4000 participants a year. The Motatapu is a hugely enjoyable and social event, famous for its relaxed southern vibe and huge camaraderie. For more information on the largest off-road sporting event www.motatapu.com

Races offered by this event

You have 6 weeks to prepare

Trail Marathon

01 Mar, 2025 (Sat)
Trail running

42.195 km

847 m of elevation gain
42 km of elevation drop
Completing a marathon is an amazing achievement and it is made all the more memorable when it is set in such a stunning location as the Motatapu Marathon.
The marathon starts at Motatapu Station near Lake Wanaka and finishes at historic Arrowtown. Your journey follows a route early Maori used for hunting and gathering, and to move Pounamu (Greenstone). The valley was not discovered by European explorers until around 1862, during the gold rush.
This course takes you on an iconic off-road run through the magnificent Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations, which thanks to the owners, are opened once a year to the public for this event.
You will go through numerous river crossings, climb some hills, overcome your own personal challenges and no doubt be awestruck with the spectacular views of these southern high country valleys.
Solo
On site
Trail
Rolling
Point to point
Timed
Closed road
Rural
Gravel
Historical
Mountain range
Nature
Park
River
Scenic
Valley
Fun

Ultra Run

01 Mar, 2025 (Sat) - 06:00
Trail running

52.5 km

2496 m of elevation gain
52.5 km of elevation drop
The Motatapu Ultra traverses the absolutely stunning ridges and valleys of the Harris Mountain Range between Wanaka and Arrowtown. The track covers 52.5km of exposed and physically challenging back-country terrain across the Motatapu and Soho Stations on an old travellers' route that is steeped in New Zealand history.

You will ascend a total of 3330 metres over four peaks (the highest point being 1275m), and negotiate rough tussock-covered areas, long, steep saddles and river crossings. It will be an accomplishment you'll remember and be very proud of for a long time to come.

The Motatapu Ultra follows the DOC Motatapu Track, which forms part of the Te Araroa Walking Trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Te Araroa, meaning "The Long Pathway", connects settlements, townships and cities throughout New Zealand, showcasing a wide variety of NZ experiences - natural, cultural and historic.
Solo
On site
Trail
Extreme
Point to point
Timed
Closed road
Rural
Downhill
Forest
Grass
Historical
Mountain range
Nature
River
Scenic
Single track
Valley
Lakeside
Eco friendly

Mondraker Mountain Bike

01 Mar, 2025 (Sat) - 08:00
Mountain biking

47 km

890 m of elevation gain
This event takes you on an iconic off-road course through the magnificent Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations. There is only one chance to bike this course each year and it’s by riding The Motatapu! Set in the spectacular Southern high country of New Zealand, there are many rivers to cross, hills to climb and a few steep descents thrown into the mix.
The ride starts on the shore of Lake Wanaka and finishes at historic Arrowtown. Your journey follows a route early Maori used for hunting and gathering, and to move Pounamu (Greenstone). The valley was not discovered by European explorers until around 1862 during the gold rush.
Solo
On site
Trail
Hilly
Point to point
Timed
Closed road
Rural
Grass
Gravel
Historical
Mountain range
Nature
Park
River
Scenic
Valley
Beginner friendly
Fun

UDC Finance Miners Trail

01 Mar, 2025 (Sat) - 08:30
Trail running

15 km

724 m of elevation gain
15 km of elevation drop
The course follows a spectacular loop from Arrowtown, ascending the historic Tobin's Track up onto the Crown Terrace before entering the magnificent Glencoe Station (water and toilet location). You’ll pass historic ruins of a miner’s cottage as you climb to the Aid Station at 6.5km. From here, the course continues up the tussock covered hillside ascending to the high point at 1047m and a breath-taking view of the Wakatipu Basin. The trail narrows to a single track as it cuts across the top of the mountain heading towards the big descent of the race. The next couple kilometres zig-zag down towards the Arrow River on a rough, disused farm track. With 4km to go Miners Trail runners meet the Macetown Track and connect up with the Off-Road Marathon, Ultra & Mountain Bike course for the final push to the finish.

This is a mountain-style course with varied terrain underfoot including farm track, backcountry single track and with short sections of steep ascent/descent. Not to mention the 11 river crossings that greet you in your final couple KMs! This will be a spectacular race that you won’t soon forget.

Get off-road and into the hills – you have a challenge ahead of you!
Solo
On site
Trail
Hilly
Single loop
Timed
Closed road
Rural
Gravel
Historical
Mountain range
Nature
Park
River
Scenic
Single track
Valley
Beginner friendly
Fun

Jennian Homes Junior Trail Run

01 Mar, 2025 (Sat) - 14:00
Trail running

4 km

30 m of elevation gain
Kids
Solo
On site
Trail
Flat
Out & back
Timed
Bridge
Forest
Nature
Park
River
Beginner friendly
Family friendly
Fun

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