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Marathon Details - Rotorua Marathon

International Marathons > New Zealand > Rotorua > Rotorua Marathon

Rotorua Marathon

Rotorua Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K, 5.5K, 5K

Rotorua, New Zealand

May 3, 2025

http://www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz

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Marathon Results

By Year:

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Top 3 Finishers

Contact Information

Name:	Angela Salmon, Event Manager
Address:	PO Box 11438 Ellerslie 1542 Auckland New Zealand
Phone Number:	64 9 570 2222
Fax Number:	64 9 570 2279
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (11)

Course 4.5

Organization 4.5

Spectators 4.4

Write a review

Number of comments: 11 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

L. H. from New Zealand (10/3/2020) "Beautiful course on a good day" (about: 2020) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This course provides picturesque views of the lake and countryside, a couple of challenging climbs and a very long 12 km straight into the home shoot. It is long by at least half a kilometre.
W. W. from Los Angeles, USA (5/22/2019) "A fun event" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Rotorua is a small town next to Lake Rotorua in north island of New Zealand. The marathon course is exact one loop around the lake. The route is mostly on major motor road, some distance from the lake without lake view. In some area, the route is a narrow path temporarily separated from a busy motor way. The event is well organized. The start and finish line is next to Rotorua Energy Events Centre in Rotorua Government Garden. The indoor facility provide a nice shelter to keep the runners warm before the race. There are about 10 aid stations along the marathon route with well stocked energy drink and water. The weather was perfect for 2019 event. Directed by friend, I was able take a bath in nature hot spring right after I have finished marathon. There are spectators in some road junctions. It is a small town, you would not expect a big crowd cheering along the way.
M. W. from Portland, Oregon, USA (5/9/2010) "Great marathon, great location" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 In 2010, there were a little over 1,500 finishers, and although the race occurred well into the New Zealand autumn, the weather was warm (if a bit rainy at times). Well organized race, run mainly on two-lane highways that circle Lake Rotorua. The haka at the starting line is spine-tingling. You really only smell the sulfur flats a bit at the start and finish. Great crowd support along almost the entire route, with well-stocked aid stations, and though it may be a bit light on the post-race refreshments, that's made up for by the fact that you can use the facilities (toilets and showers) in a real building (the Energy Center) before and after the race. As an American, I'm used to finisher's medals for every race, but they only give them out every five years in Rotorua. The Adidas tech-tee finisher's shirt was pretty nice, though. I'd definitely run it again, but wait for a year with a finisher's medal!
C. M. from Bristol, UK (5/4/2009) "Well organised event and a challenge worth meeting" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Well worth travelling to NZ for! The scenery is wonderful, and the course very well-laid out (though the hills were steeper than expected!). However, it was not much fun running so close to traffic at certain points, as the roads are not cut off in parts. The pasta party was very disappointing--there was no atmosphere and it was not worth the money. On the whole, it was very well-organised with lots of water and energy drink stops. The finisher medal was great. I definitely recommend entering!
Robert Aspden from Auckland (4/11/2009) "A beautiful course" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well organized run with plenty of aid stations around the whole course. Plenty of company as well.
John Molloy from Rotorua NZ (11/2/2007) "Best marathon in NZ" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Best supported and only true marathon event in NZ. No half marathon bunnies so you get all shapes and sizes with one common goal. Longest cut off of all NZ marathons. Well supported.
A. G. from New Zealand (7/9/2006) "Boring start, picturesque middle, boring end." (about: 2001) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The route goes out along a major highway for about 10 KMs and then follows a scenic 15 KM alongside the lake with some hills for interest. The last 10-15 KM are back along a major road past the airport, with some long boring straights. Spectator support was mainly limited to the competitor's seconds. This is New Zealand's largest marathon, but there are much better ones to run. Save your strength for the Hawkes Bay or Buller.
L. H. from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (8/29/2005) "a must-do marathon, at least once in a lifetime" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 An unique 26.2 miles of beautiful scenic course around a volanic lake, it is a bit hilly but never boring. The weather was perfect for running for the 2005 raceday. The NZ folks were extremely friendly and really appreciative of the runners and organzied great cheering stations along the way. I highly recommend this as a destination marathon to New Zealand, a really beautiful country. Do be aware that runners do not have the right of way in New Zealand, we were warned to watch for traffic. A little disappointed that there was no finisher's medal and no technical shirt for small women's sizes.
R. A. from Auckland (4/5/2005) "enjoyable run, scenic course" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A well organized run with lots of company on the way.
Alexander Matskevich from New York (5/13/2003) "Great reason to see New Zealand" (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a pleasant marathon this was! It started at the Mayor?s reception for the foreign runners a night before the race. The Maori welcoming ceremony was absolutely magnificent! Just like the rest of the New Zealanders, the organizers were extremely friendly and helpful. The beautiful course runs around Lake Rotorua, past the villages and rolling hills with the autumn trees turning red and yellow, and singing birds, and occasionally even the rainforests. Though most of the time you run on the road that you share with the cars, there are so few of them that the exhaust is never a problem and the air is excellent. The last few kilometers are a bit less exciting (or did I just hit the Wall?), but very enthusiastic spectators make it much easier. Regardless of your finishing time, there is a high chance that you will end up with some award anyway, as the organizers and businesses in Rotorua donate lots of nice prizes to be drawn in the sweepstakes. This is a great marathon for slower runners and walkers, as there are many of them and the time limit is very generous. The Rotorua Marathon is definitely one more excellent reason to travel to the other side of the world to see beautiful New Zealand! Go for it!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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L. H. from New Zealand (10/3/2020) "Beautiful course on a good day" (about: 2020) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This course provides picturesque views of the lake and countryside, a couple of challenging climbs and a very long 12 km straight into the home shoot. It is long by at least half a kilometre.
W. W. from Los Angeles, USA (5/22/2019) "A fun event" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Rotorua is a small town next to Lake Rotorua in north island of New Zealand. The marathon course is exact one loop around the lake. The route is mostly on major motor road, some distance from the lake without lake view. In some area, the route is a narrow path temporarily separated from a busy motor way. The event is well organized. The start and finish line is next to Rotorua Energy Events Centre in Rotorua Government Garden. The indoor facility provide a nice shelter to keep the runners warm before the race. There are about 10 aid stations along the marathon route with well stocked energy drink and water. The weather was perfect for 2019 event. Directed by friend, I was able take a bath in nature hot spring right after I have finished marathon. There are spectators in some road junctions. It is a small town, you would not expect a big crowd cheering along the way.
M. W. from Portland, Oregon, USA (5/9/2010) "Great marathon, great location" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 In 2010, there were a little over 1,500 finishers, and although the race occurred well into the New Zealand autumn, the weather was warm (if a bit rainy at times). Well organized race, run mainly on two-lane highways that circle Lake Rotorua. The haka at the starting line is spine-tingling. You really only smell the sulfur flats a bit at the start and finish. Great crowd support along almost the entire route, with well-stocked aid stations, and though it may be a bit light on the post-race refreshments, that's made up for by the fact that you can use the facilities (toilets and showers) in a real building (the Energy Center) before and after the race. As an American, I'm used to finisher's medals for every race, but they only give them out every five years in Rotorua. The Adidas tech-tee finisher's shirt was pretty nice, though. I'd definitely run it again, but wait for a year with a finisher's medal!
C. M. from Bristol, UK (5/4/2009) "Well organised event and a challenge worth meeting" (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Well worth travelling to NZ for! The scenery is wonderful, and the course very well-laid out (though the hills were steeper than expected!). However, it was not much fun running so close to traffic at certain points, as the roads are not cut off in parts. The pasta party was very disappointing--there was no atmosphere and it was not worth the money. On the whole, it was very well-organised with lots of water and energy drink stops. The finisher medal was great. I definitely recommend entering!
Robert Aspden from Auckland (4/11/2009) "A beautiful course" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well organized run with plenty of aid stations around the whole course. Plenty of company as well.
John Molloy from Rotorua NZ (11/2/2007) "Best marathon in NZ" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Best supported and only true marathon event in NZ. No half marathon bunnies so you get all shapes and sizes with one common goal. Longest cut off of all NZ marathons. Well supported.
A. G. from New Zealand (7/9/2006) "Boring start, picturesque middle, boring end." (about: 2001) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Rotorua Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The route goes out along a major highway for about 10 KMs and then follows a scenic 15 KM alongside the lake with some hills for interest. The last 10-15 KM are back along a major road past the airport, with some long boring straights. Spectator support was mainly limited to the competitor's seconds. This is New Zealand's largest marathon, but there are much better ones to run. Save your strength for the Hawkes Bay or Buller.
L. H. from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (8/29/2005) "a must-do marathon, at least once in a lifetime" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 An unique 26.2 miles of beautiful scenic course around a volanic lake, it is a bit hilly but never boring. The weather was perfect for running for the 2005 raceday. The NZ folks were extremely friendly and really appreciative of the runners and organzied great cheering stations along the way. I highly recommend this as a destination marathon to New Zealand, a really beautiful country. Do be aware that runners do not have the right of way in New Zealand, we were warned to watch for traffic. A little disappointed that there was no finisher's medal and no technical shirt for small women's sizes.
R. A. from Auckland (4/5/2005) "enjoyable run, scenic course" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Rotorua Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A well organized run with lots of company on the way.
Alexander Matskevich from New York (5/13/2003) "Great reason to see New Zealand" (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a pleasant marathon this was! It started at the Mayor?s reception for the foreign runners a night before the race. The Maori welcoming ceremony was absolutely magnificent! Just like the rest of the New Zealanders, the organizers were extremely friendly and helpful. The beautiful course runs around Lake Rotorua, past the villages and rolling hills with the autumn trees turning red and yellow, and singing birds, and occasionally even the rainforests. Though most of the time you run on the road that you share with the cars, there are so few of them that the exhaust is never a problem and the air is excellent. The last few kilometers are a bit less exciting (or did I just hit the Wall?), but very enthusiastic spectators make it much easier. Regardless of your finishing time, there is a high chance that you will end up with some award anyway, as the organizers and businesses in Rotorua donate lots of nice prizes to be drawn in the sweepstakes. This is a great marathon for slower runners and walkers, as there are many of them and the time limit is very generous. The Rotorua Marathon is definitely one more excellent reason to travel to the other side of the world to see beautiful New Zealand! Go for it!

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Marathon Details - Rotorua Marathon