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
Contact: [email protected]