Download map of the race with directions for your support crew.

Run Description (18km) View Run Map

Runners line up on the south side of Eastbourne Wharf, and head south along the beach for approx 1km before leaving the beach at the beginning of the seawall on Marine Parade.

Follow Marine Parade south for 1.5km to the Eastbourne Bus Garage. At the south end of the garage cross the road into a pathway that leads into the Bus Barn Track.

This track climbs through bush for 1km to 170m, then turns north and follows the ridge to the Kowhai St Track.

Turn right here (signposted Butterfly Creek) and follow the track down thru zig-zags (please stay on track) to turn left at Muritai Park sign...do not go to Butterfly Creek picnic area!!! Follow the track north and up to Eastbourne ridgeline.

At the top you will have the harbour in front of you. Turn right onto the McKenzie Track, which will drop down very steeply for approx 1km to emerge directly opposite the Eastbourne shopping centre where you turn hard right onto Muratai Rd.

Run north on Muratai Road�s right hand footpath for approx 2km to Days Bay. Turn right into Ferry Rd, which climbs uphill for approx 0.7km to the Kaitawa/Ridgeline Track.

Follow the track uphill through pine forest and then bush for approx 2km to the ridgeline.

Turn hard left at the top (signposted Kaitawa Track), run around the fallen tree to the next intersection approx 0.2km later.

Take the right fork at this intersection - i.e: the Ridgeline Track up to Mt. Lowry (park bench).

Turn hard left at the top, following the track as it undulates north along the ridge for approx 3km to the Puriri St Track.

Turn right onto the Puriri St track, running downhill for approx 1km to emerge in Wainuiomata at the bottom of Wainuiomata Hill Road.

Do not cross the road! Run down Wainuiomata Rd for approx 0.4km to a pedestrian crossing. Turn left over the pedestrian crossing and into Parkway Rd for a final 0.6km to the transition at Wainuiomata High School.

Transition is inside the front gates of Wainuiomata High School.

NB:
This stage is 18km of mostly bush tracks, with two steep climbs to approx 300m. Times vary from 1hr 05min to 2hrs.

There are no aid stations on the course, so competitors must take their own food and drink.

Mountain Bike Description (34km) View Mountain Bike Map

From Wainuiomata High School, mountain bikers exit the transition running with their bikes across a pedestrian crossing outside the school. Bikes are mounted on the left side of Parkway Road, which competitors follow for approx 0.3km before turning left through a white barrier gate onto a firebreak road.

The firebreak takes you through another barrier gate and then uphill for approx. 1km to a water reservoir. Ride around the reservoir and then down onto a series of steep roller coaster hills. After approx 2km you will pass under a set of pylons followed by a short steep climb to the intersection with the main Hutt Hills firebreak.

Turn right, heading north along the Hutt Hills firebreak. The course then undulates for approx 5km, where you come to an intersection. Take the 2nd left (a radio mast is over your left shoulder and Fitzherbert St firebreak in front of you, signposted Wainui Centre). A 0.5km descent during this section includes 2 drainage channels across the track, so take care!

Eventually you enter a clearing with 2 options. Take the right fork down into Moore�s Valley. This 3km descent includes 2 new slips to negotiate. So be careful!

Following the descent, the track levels out and veers round to the right. Ignore the steep track that goes straight up the cleared hillside and continue on for a further 0.3km where the track veers left and starts climbing. This is the last big climb.

This climb (called Everest) is 4km long. At the top you are in open farmland, with Whitman's Valley through a gate on your right. But ignore this and continue on the main track, which undulates and then descends for 3km to the first of two clearings.

At the first clearing go straight ahead into a steep downhill single track for approx 1km that includes deep ruts and bog sections and a sharp drop off out into the second clearing.

At the second clearing head to the far left corner, riding over a small bump into another tight single-track section that lasts approx 0.5km. The second single track brings you out onto the Kingsley St firebreak, which descends for approx 3km to a large barrier gate.

At the gate, go straight ahead (ignore the second gate onto Kingsley St) until you see a water tower. Immediately after the tower, turn right and drop down the trail to emerge at Silverstream Retreat (the old Silverstream Hospital).

At the red gate turn hard right and follow the boundary on the grass, and then around the tennis courts, over the next red gate and down to the tip road. (Please Note: this is private property and access is restricted to race day. Failure to respect these wishes may result in a withdrawal of consent.)

At the Tip Road, cross immediately, passing in front of Silver Stream Railway to a stream. Follow the left stream bank for approx 0.2km under the road bridge and up the bank onto the Hutt River Trail.

Heading south now, follow the Hutt River Trail for approx 7km to Kennedy Good Bridge. Approx 0.3km past the bridge turn right and cross the Hutt River carrying your mountain bikes.

Riding now on the west side of the river trail continue for approx 5km, passing under Melling Bridge, Ewen Bridge and then Ava Rail Bridge into Sladden Park, Petone for the mountain bike to kayak transition.

Mountain Bike Duathletes

Duathletes follow the same run and mountain bike course, but at the end of the mountain bike they rack their bikes in transition and then run a final 30m through the finish shute next to transition.

NB:
This stage is 35km and 99% off road and rideable. Times vary from 1hr30min to 2hrs30min.

There will be officials on the course. Please assist anyone in difficulty by continuing on to the next official.

Kayak (12km River & Harbour) View Kayak Map

Kayaks are to be lined up on the grass to the left of the Sladden Park boat ramp. Team kayakers must tag their mountain biker before getting in the kayak. Kayaking out of the Sladden Park lagoon, turn right and head downriver.

Keeping to the right side of the river, continue downstream for 2km to the River mouth.

At the river mouth turn right and follow the buoys along the shoreline of the Petone foreshore, staying within 50m of the shoreline at all times!

Kayakers will pass under the Petone Wharf and continue for another 1km before turning outside Petone Rowing Club.

After turning around kayakers return the same way, paddling back along the foreshore, up the river and turn left back into the Sladden Pk for the finish.

To finish, competitors exit kayaks and run a final 30m run up the finish shute in front of the Sladden Park boat ramp.

NB:
This stage is approx. 12km. Times vary from 1hr to 2hrs.

In the event of a strong southerly wind (30km/hr plus) the course will be altered to a criterium-style format of four laps up and down the Hutt River outside Sladden Park.