Taken in years of age on the day of the event

5-9 years
10-14
15-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 plus

Event registration will take place 4:30pm to 9:00pm, at a venue to be advised.

You can have someone else register on your behalf and pick up your race pack (race number bib and transponder).

Entries will be accepted on the event day at Buffalo Beach Reserve if capacity has not been reached. You can pay by eftpos or cash. You may register on race day up until 30 minutes before your start time.

There is no age limit for the 3.5km race, however all entrants must be able to navigate a 3.5km beach / footpath based course. 

All people entering the 6km 10km and 21km events must be 12 years or older (or accompanied by a paying responsible adult aged 18 years plus).

The festival is a CUPLESS event, so please bring a cup for ALL distances.

3.5km: Water and lollies half way round

6km: Aid Stations at 3km including; water, Tailwind electrolyte drink and lollies.

10km: Aid Stations at 3km and 7km including; water, Tailwind electrolyte drink and lollies.

21km: Aid Stations at 3km, 7km, 11.5km and 19km including; water, Tailwind electrolyte drink and lollies.  The 21km event will also have bananas and Coke at the Purangi Aid Station located 11.5km into the course.

There is no compulsory gear for this event. However we strongly recommend that if the day is cold or raining that everyone wears or takes a thermal top layer (polypropylene or Merino), decent rain jacket or both. This is especially important for those people who may be on the course for more than one hour.

There is a cut off time of 1pm at the finish line.

We offer a drop bag service so you can wear something warm in the morning as you travel to the start line at Ferry landing.
At registration you will be given a sticker to write your name, number and distance on, then fix to your drop bag.
Then you can take your drop bag over to the 21km, 10km and 6km start line at Ferry landing, leave it with us and we will get the bag back to the finish line for you.

The 6km, 10km and 21km distances include a ferry ride 1.3km from the finish line. Just prior to getting to the ferry, you will cross a timing mat and the clock will stop. After your ferry ride, when you begin your run home, the timer will start again.

There will be a tasty food and beverages at the start / finish line at Buffalo Beach reserve available for purchase.

The 6km, 10km and 21km races start at Ferry landing (which is on the Cooks Beach side of the Whitianga Estuary. The 3.5km race starts at Buffalo Beach.
All events finish at Buffalo Beach (middle of the Whitianga Beach).
We suggest park at the finish line at Buffalo Beach.
There will be a free bus to take all event entrants and supporters from the finish line at Buffalo Beach Reserve to the Ferry. (The trip distance is 1.3 km) All entrants then get a free ferry ride across to the start line. (Supporters need to pay for the ferry).
Or you may choose to walk from Buffalo Beach to the Ferry– this would be a nice warm up!

We have some sweet looking merch for sale. Please see the home page.

Please park at the Buffalo Beach Reserve, Buffalo Beach, Whitianga.

Pets are allowed at the event base, but must be strictly kept on a lead at all times.

No Pets are allowed on course.

No prams or buggies are allowed on course.

It is vital that you prepare well for this race. Preparation needs to include the physical training required to be fit enough to complete the distance you have chosen. Distance running does place stress on the body so if you have any doubts, you should consult your health professional.

And don’t forget to bring your ‘can do attitude’ – that will get you a long way!

All participants will receive a finishers medal when they cross the finish line. This medal will have a coastal vibe.

There will be a short, sharp and fun prizegiving held from 1:00pm to 1:20pm

Spot prizes will be given out at prize giving. You must attend prizegiving to claim your prize.

The male and female winners of all distances will receive a stunning natural trophy.

We will also acknowledge on the stage the top 3 males and females in all distances.

Age group winners will be recognised in the online results, but not at prizegiving.

We encourage supporters for the entrants. Supporters must act in a safe manner at all times and cannot follow their runner in a vehicle.

The event may be run on an alternative course or schedule if the planned courses are not able to be used on race day. Please keep an eye on the website home page, Facebook page and your emails for any possible course updates.

There will be toilets at the event base as well as at approx. 5km intervals throughout the course.

1. I have read and understand the information regarding this event and understand that I participate in this event at my own risk.

2. I acknowledge and accept that this event involves an inherent risk of injury, illness and in extreme cases, death.

3. I hereby attest and verify that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained for this event.

4. I understand that competing in this event may involve running and walking in urban areas, roads and on off road trails. The hazards may include but are not limited to; challenging terrain, rocks, roots, streams, cliffs, steep banks, geothermal activity, motor vehicle traffic, slippery surfaces, loose rocks, soft sand, weather conditions, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, actions of spectators, other competitors, general public and the event organisers personnel.

5. I will be drug and alcohol free for this event.

6. I acknowledge that although the event has medical personnel and resources at various points along the course, the inaccessibility of some of the trail will make it difficult or impossible for medical assistance to reach me immediately and extractions may also take a period of time.

7. I agree to allow event medical staff to treat me as they see fit.

8. I will stay on the marked course at all times, unless instructed by event staff.

9. I will obey all course marking.

10. If race management indicate that compulsory gear is needed, I will wear or take the compulsory safety equipment required by the event.

11. My support crew and I will obey the instructions given by event staff.

12. I accept that I may be pulled from the course at any time with the discretion of event staff primarily for, but not limited to, safety reasons.

13. I will complete the entire course under my own power.

14. I will not light any fires.

15. I will be respectful of other trail users such as recreational walkers and mountain bikers.

16. I will not litter.

17. Smoking is not permitted at any of the checkpoints or along the trail by participants, staff, spectators or supporters.

18. If I wish to withdraw from the event, I will either inform the nearest event staff, or text the Race Communications Manager (see rear of race number for phone numbers).

19. If I need assistance, I will ask a staff member or call the Race Communications Manager (see rear of race number for phone numbers). If none of these options work and I have cell phone coverage and it is a true emergency, I will call NZ emergency services by dialling 111.

20. Participants who leave the course/event without informing staff of their race number will be classified as “missing”. The participant will be contacted on their mobile phone and their emergency contact will be called. If there is no response from either party or the emergency contact does not know the status of the runner, a search will be activated.

21. I hereby allowing aerial filming of myself, including use of drones, as part of this event.

22. I hereby allow the use of my name and image to be used in the media and for marketing purposes.

23. I understand that my contact details will be added to the Element Events NZ database, and that I will receive emails directly from Element Events NZ. I understand that Element Events will not distribute this database for any reason and that I can unsubscribe from this database at any time.

24. I accept that the event may be run on an alternative course or schedule if the planned courses are not able to be used on race day.

25. I accept that the refund policies, as stated on the official event website at the time I entered, are not negotiable. I understand that the Organisers may have to cancel or postpone the event and consequently my entry fee may be partly refunded, not refunded or transferred to a new event date.

26. I agree to comply with any Covid-19 requirements that may be imposed by the Government.

27. I hereby acknowledge this waiver, agreement, release and indemnity discharges all persons, corporations, associations and bodies involved or otherwise engaged in promoting or staging the event and their servants, agents, representatives, officers and employees from loss, injury or damage to my person or property.

May Include:

• Bridges/ steps/ barriers / board walks

• Cliffs/ banks

• Dehydration

• Fatigue

• Flooding

• Ferry crossing

• Getting lost

• Heat stroke / Hyperthermia

• Hyponatremia

• Low light conditions

• Medical problems

• People – Other trail users

• Poor fitness

• Steep slopes

• Vegetation spikes, prickles, sharp leaf edges

• Vehicles / public roads / competitors / spectators hit by traffic

During the event, an emergency could take place such as a fire, Tsunami, earthquake or similar.

If an emergency does occur, follow all instructions from staff who may hold you at certain locations or lead you to safety.

What to do if you are injured / ill or just cannot continue to run/walk:

1. Stay calm.

2. Contact one of the two phone numbers on your race bib. Or;

3. Stop the next runner going past you and ask for help.

4. Apply first aid to yourself if required.

5. Put on warm clothing if you are cold.

6. Wait for assistance. We have event staff and medics who will get to you as soon as they can.