Good dirty fun for all ages at the Waitomo Trail Run

Good dirty fun for all ages at the Waitomo Trail Run

The countdown is on to the most unique adventure run in New Zealand

Remember exploring down holes, up trees, scrambling over rocks and laughing until your face hurts? The Waitomo Trail Run is all that - an adventure for kids, both big and small.

The perfect end to the school holidays and a chance to sneak in some extra special bonding time with the family and friends, the Waitomo Trail Run will take place on 28 April, 2018. This is a truly unique New Zealand experience, taking you both under and over the ground on an adventure that promises to delight thousands.

With distances of 6, 11, 22 or 35km and the option to run or walk, this is nothing like your typical running race. In fact, it’s not a race at all. It is a true adventure through some of the most extraordinary landscapes on the planet.

Challenge your family and friends to join you and come discover the hidden Waitomo, on private land that is not accessible to the public any other time of the year. Explore the surreal karst-studded landscapes, caves, native bush, vibrant working farms, tunnels, canyons and glowworms.

The courses have plenty of adventure, and some less-adventurous options, guaranteeing there is something for everyone. The scenery is simply breathtaking – you will run through the farms that Sir Peter Jackson has described as “way too pretty for The Hobbit“.

Organiser Paul Charteris, the race director behind the globally renowned Tarawera Ultramarathon, has been working for many years to bring the Waitomo Trail Run after experiencing the magic of Waitomo himself.

“This is a kids’ paradise. The 6k run/walk starts deep underground at the entranceway to the Ruakuri Cave and tunnels to explore through - they're small enough that the grownups need to duck down or crawl,” Charteris says. “The 11k is up and over and around karst land formations that make this a paradise for kids to explore. Quite often the kids run off ahead of their parents and our finish-line areas become defacto child-minding zones.”

Coinciding with the end of school holidays and multiple races for varied abilities, Waitomo is a definite crowd pleaser. Says Charteris:

“Some people turn up equating it to a city-run or walk - and it's very different to that. We have ropes to help you step up onto the larger rocks and optional hobbit holes to squeeze yourself though. There's a ton of laughter, good dirty fun and maybe even a stranger pushing your butt to help you up and over the tricky bits. It's not a race - in fact - it's the furthest thing possible from a race!”

The event completely sells out every year so get your entry in now.

-ENDS-

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