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
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 will be asked to carry your own water, etc. for the first 23Km, after which the Marathon drink stations will be available. If required, you will be provided with light-weight portable lighting for the four tunnels in this sector.
Marathon:
The 42.195 Kilometre Marathon course will start at Kaitoke, on Incline Road, north of Upper Hutt, in the foothills of the Remutaka Mountains, and after entering Kaitoke Loop Road for a few hundred metres, turn left and travel down an old railway route (including a tunnel) via the Tunnel Gully Recreation Reserve to Maymorn. The first road section of the course (c4Km) travels from Maymorn to Te Marua, crossing under SH2, then a short distance south to meet the walkway. A 2Km bush and grass trail takes you to Akatarawa, where you meet the second road section (c1Km). Bridge Street takes you to the beginning of The Hutt River Trail proper near Totara Park where, after a short distance, you cross a suspension footbridge into Harcourt Park. From Harcourt Park you follow the left bank of the Hutt River for 20Km to Avalon, travelling through Poet’s Corner, Moonshine and Trentham Memorial Parks, and passing Silverstream, Stokes Valley and Taita. At Avalon, you cross the Kennedy-Good Bridge to Belmont, and travel along the right bank of the river, past the Lower Hutt CBD, to its estuary at Petone. The last 2Km of your picturesque journey skirts the river estuary, and passes through the Hikoikoi Reserve to the finish on McEwan Park on the Petone foreshore.
Half Marathon:
The Half Marathon starts at Moonshine Park, on the south 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 near McEwen Park, Petone, crossing the Estuary Bridge to the Eastern Side of the Hutt River, travels upstream (north) to the Ewen Bridge where you return to the western side of the river, and travel north for several hundred metres. At this point you will be directed up onto the stop bank, and traveling south, merge with the other events to finish back at McEwen Park. No transport is required for this event
Maps: Links for all the courses are below
Ultra-Marathon: http://nz.mapometer.com/running/route_4462578
Marathon: http://nz.mapometer.com/running/route_4463602
Half Marathon: http://nz.mapometer.com/running/route_4463600
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.
Contact: [email protected]