70km Run

New for 2024 (well sort of!) We’ve had many conversations, and listened to our runners, and decided to go back to the old course for 2024, but excluding the boat trip to the start line.

The 70km event is designed for people who are building up to do the full monty.

You will start at Richardson’s farm on Hingarae Road. You will get straight into the rolling hills of private farmland, before entering the surprisingly scenic Otutira Forest (access is only available for this event), then exiting the forest onto a section of gravel and tarseal, a good chance to stretch your legs make up some time.

At the airstrip on Whangamata Road you’ll have 50km to go. You’ll head down a pretty gnarly hill before you’re onto the Kawakawa section of the wonderful Great Lake Trails. It’s all down hill to Kawakawa Bay, listen out for our native birds and take in the amazing native bush environment. Leaving Kawakawa Bay you’ll wind your way up to Codger’s Rock, before descending into Kinloch and running a cool section on the Whangamata Stream Trail. If you’re lucky enough, you may see trout spawning in the Whangamata Stream.

After Kinloch, you will hit the infamous W2K trail and the Headland Loop. If you’re in no hurry, check out the couple of lookout spots and take in the views of the lake and the Tongariro National Park! You will finish at Whakaipo Bay where the Total Sport team will be waiting for you with a Total Sport hug, some food, and of course a Speights!

Start Time

8.00am at Richardson’s Farm - 395 Hingarae Road

Driving Directions

If using Google Maps 395 Hingarae Road will get you there.

Head out of Taupo to the Thermal Explorer Highway go across the control gate bridge and head up the hill for 1km. Turn left into Poihipi Road, travel along Poihipi Road for approx 27.1km then turn left into Marotiri Road travel along Marotiri Road for approx 5km. Turn left into SH32 travel approx 19km along SH32 until you reach the Hingarae Road, travel along Hingarae road for 5.3km. Turn left into the farm and follow signs to parking.

Race Briefing

The race briefing for the 70km, and 100km events (including relay teams) is compulsory. Please make sure you attend. At the briefing we will go over all the logistics of the event as well as cover the all important health, safety and medical aspects of the event.
Please see times and locations here.

Bus Timetables

Please see Transport page.

Aid Stations

The Aid Stations are stocked with lollies, gingernuts, chips, pretzels, sandwiches (peanut butter or vegemite) bananas and oranges, water, R-Line electrolyte drink and coke. Fluid will be available in jugs and water containers to enable competitors to fill up drink bottles or bladders. Aid stations are clearly marked on the course maps (distances approx).

Sandwiches & Oranges will not be available at the final two aid stations (headland).

In an effort to reduce our footprint, we ask that you please bring either a reusable cup, drink bottle or hydration bladder as there will be no disposable cups.

Lights

All 70 km runners/ walkers will need to have a light for the final 24km leg from Kinloch to Whakaipo Bay if they leave the Kinloch aid station after 2:30pm. So either have lights on you, or put your light in your last drop bag for pick up at Kinloch.

Cut off Times

This is the time you must LEAVE the aid station – not arrive. Please ensure you are aware of the cut-off times - these will be strictly enforced for your safety.

• 12.00pm: At the airstrip on Whangamata Road (50km remaining)

• 5:45pm: Kinloch Domain (24km remaining)

• 7.15pm: Beginning of Headland loop (18km remaining) - Any participant arriving after this time will be required to take the short cut to the finish in Whakaipo Bay and will not receive a finishers medal or an official result.

• 12.00am : Finish Line Cut Off/Closed - Any participant arriving after this time will be considered a DNF and will not receive a finishers medal or an official result.

  We have introduced an official finish line cut-off of midnight, for the first time this year. The intermediate cut-off’s have always been based around trying to get everyone home by this time, but this change is to provide more certainty and safety to our event systems, by ensuring everyone is finished by midnight.

  If this is your first time doing an Ultra or you are unsure if you can make the midnight cut-off, we recommend you try a lesser distance this year, see how it goes and came back next year and have another crack at the longer event

Required Pace In Each Section To Meet Cut Offs

• Start to Airstrip - 12.6min/km

• Airstrip to Kinloch Domain - 12.8min/km

• Kinloch Domain to Beginning of Headland loop - 15min/km

• Beginning of Headland loop to Finish Line - 15.8min/km

Compulsory Gear

Please see the Health & Safety page.

Dropbags

You do not need a support crew for this event. Dropbags are available for all solo runners.

Pacers

We encourage 70km entrants to have a pacer on the last section from Kinloch to the finish at Whakaipo Bay. Pacers must be registered - please see PACERS page for full details.

Spectators

Spectators can see their runners/walkers at Whangamata Road (Airstrip) and Kinloch. Those active spectators who want to cheer on their runners near the finish should meet them at the stile at the end of the gravel road at the end of Whakaipo Bay and run along the road to the finish with them.

70km Statistics*

• Elevation gain 1269m

• Single trail 70%

• Offroad 15%

• Road 15%

*Elevations sourced from Garmin and Strava. The final event maps, distances and elevations are subject to changes as we finalise the course details and logistics.

• %'s are approximate

• Single trail = bliss!

• Offroad = 4WD trails or farm

• Road = gravel or sealed road