Run the Hutt River Trail – Ian Priest Memorial Ultra & Trail Events

Ultramarathon · Marathon · Half Marathon · 10K
10th January 2026 – From the Remutaka Mountains to Wellington Harbour

About the Event

Celebrate Adventure. Honour Legacy.


Join us for the Ian Priest Memorial Hutt River Trail Events on 10 January 2026.
Run or walk an unforgettable journey through historic rail trails, riverbanks, tunnels, and estuaries.

Whether you’re chasing an ultramarathon challenge or a family 10K, there’s something for everyone.

What runners say about the event

I have done the event every year (2026 will be my 19th) and encourage everyone

I know to do it as it’s such a great introduction to ultras and an awesome little event.

This is a beautiful running event.

Event Options

Choose Your Distance

Ultra Marathon (60km) – Cross Creek to Petone via the Remutaka Rail Trail and Marathon course. Start: 6:30am.

Marathon (42.2km) – Kaitoke to Petone along riverside trails and historic tracks. Start: 7:30am / 8:30am.

Half Marathon (21.1km) – Moonshine Park to Petone. Start: 10:30am.

10K Fun Run/Walk – Around McEwan Park & Hutt River Estuary. Start: 12:00pm.

👉 All events finish at McEwan Park, Petone – with food, music, and a celebration on the foreshore!

Highlights of the Course

🌄 Scenic off-road trails from mountains to sea

🚂 Historic Rimutaka Rail Trail tunnels & zigzags

🌿 Bush tracks, riverbanks, and estuary paths

🎽 Flat, fast sections balanced with trail adventure

🏅 Post-race celebration

Event Information

Cut-off time: 3pm for all events

Aid stations: Available along the course from 23km (Ultra) and regularly for Marathon/Half/10K

Safety: Well-marked trails with marshals and support crew

FAQ

How do I get to the start? Shuttles available for Ultra, Half & Marathon starts.

Shuttles leave from the finish at McEwan Park, Petone

Ultra Marathon - 5.00am Petone to Cross Creek

Slow Marathon runners - 6.30am Petone to Kaitoki Go-kart

Fast Marathon runners - 7.30am Petone to Kaitoki Go-kart

Half Marathon runners - 9.30am Petone to Moonshine Park

Do I need trail shoes? Trail shoes are recommended but not required.

Is the event walker-friendly? Yes! The Half Marathon and 10K are open to walkers.

Time of Start

Ultra Marathon Cross Creek 6.30am

Marathon (finishing longer than 5 hours) Kaitoke 7.30am

Marathon (finishing under 5 hours) Kaitoke 8.30am

Half Marathon Moonshine Road 10.30am

10km Fun Run/Walk McEwen Park, Petone 12.00pm

Course: Note the courses may change due to the ongoing work on the River Trail

These are well marked off-road events, over a variety of surfaces including: bush tracks, grass, gravel and

sealed footpaths, and some unsealed vehicle tracks. There is approximately 5Km of public road in the early part of the Marathon course.

All of the course is shared with other Users, such as runners, walkers, trampers, cyclists and – in some places – motor vehicles.

Unusual features include: Tunnels, stiles, gateways and zigzags, and one flight of steps (up).

The majority of the course, including all of the Half Marathon and 10Km, is flat, with some undulations over obstacles such as stop banks, etc.. The first 5Km of the Marathon has some hills – mostly down. Overall, the Marathon course loses some 200 – 300 metres of elevation from start to finish.

The first 18Km of the Ultra Marathon follows the historic Remutaka Incline Rail Trail – approx. 7Km uphill to start with.

The Ian Priest Memorial Ultra Marathon (60Km):

The 60Km Ultra Marathon (which is unmarked until it joins the Marathon) will start at the Featherston end of the Remutaka Incline Rail Trail, and will follow the Rail Trail across the Remutaka Range until it meets the Marathon course at Kaitoke, which becomes the last 42Km of the Ultra Marathon. You need to carry your own water, etc. for the first 23Km, after which the Marathon drink stations will be available.

Marathon:

Due to realignment and/or storm damage to the lower reaches of the Hutt River Trail, the 42.195

Kilometre Marathon course will start near the gate to the Kaitoke Go Kart Track, on Incline

Road, Kaitoke, north of Upper Hutt, in the foothills of the Remutaka Mountains. Initially there is

an 800metres run to the Remutaka Rail Trail car park with a return trip past the start line. After

turning left into Kaitoke Loop Road, Station Drive (an old railway route) - and an entrance to

Tunnel Gully - is just 750 metres farther on, on the left. Travel down Station Drive for 540

metres, and turn right and travel 2.2km turning left at a gate into Plateau Road, which is sealed,

for another 450metres to access Maymorn Tunnel. and on to Maymorn. This road section of the

course (about 2Km) travels from Maymorn to Beechwood Road, Te Marua. crossing under SH2,

then a short distance (900metres), south to meet a 2Km bush and grass trail taking you to

Akatarawa, where you will be directed under the Akatarawa road bridge emerging on the

western side of Akatarawa Road. A short distance along Akatarawa Road the trail hugs the river

bank passing through Harcourt Park to a duck pond. You will be directed left to SH2, and right

along the road side past the dairy and down a zig zag back to the river trail. By following the

river, you will reach the half marathon start at Poets Park.

From Poets Park, travel through Moonshine and Trentham Memorial Parks, passing

Silverstream, Stokes Valley and Taita to Avalon. You DO NOT cross the Kennedy-Good Bridge

to Belmont, but continue along on the left bank of the river, passing the power substation on its

left and onto the stopbank and new gravel tracks. At the Melling Bridge drop down and left,

turning right to go under the road and left again to skirt the Harvey Norman store, crossing the

stopbank opposite Woolworths and the Riverbank Carpark to the track along the river bank. On

reaching the Ewen Bridge you will be directed to cross the bridge on the downstream side and

then directed to the track closest to the river. On reaching the rail bridge pass under it and turn

sharp right to reach the Stopbank which you follow through the park and golf course. the track

leads under the Estuary Bridge. Turn left on reaching the road and then next left again onto the

trail along the river bank to the estuary and the southern edge (sea side) of McEwen Park and

the finish line.

Half Marathon:

The Half Marathon starts at Poets Park, on the north side of the Moonshine Bridge, and travels along the last half of the Marathon course.

10Km Fun Run/Walk:

The 10Km Fun Run/Walk starts at McEwen Park, Petone, and follows upstream the last 5k of the other events in reverse. The 5k turn point is in the Riverbank Car Park. After turning the course retraces to the finish. No transport is required for this event

Ian Priest was an enthusiastic administrator and supporter of athletic activities for most of his life, serving in many rolls, including President, in the Athletics Wellington Cross country & Road committee, as well as stints with Athletics NZ. He had life membership of Athletics Wellington, Aurora Harriers and no doubt Hutt Valley Presbyterian Harriers. His athletic interests had their roots in Hawkes Bay. Ian had a bent toward dreaming up new events (the Hutt River Trail Events), organisation improvements and supporting other events. His presidentual duties covered Aurora Harriers, and in his last months, Petone Lions. Opera was a strong part of his social life.

The pinnacle of Ian's organisational ability was the NZ Mountain Running Champs on Colonial Knob in Porirua City on the 16th April, 2011. Unfortunately Ian passed away three days before the running of the races.