Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB – T21
Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Reserve
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Tarawera Ultra-Trail T21 is the short-course distance of the by UTMB event in New Zealand's Rotorua lakes district. It covers 23 km with 495 m of climbing and a high point of 538 m, starting from the Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Reserve at 430 m. That gentle profile makes it an accessible, runnable trail race and a good entry point to the Tarawera weekend. With only a few hundred metres of climb over 23 km, the T21 is a course to be run rather than power-hiked. It threads from Blue Lake through the well-known Redwoods forest to the finish, and it suits runners who can hold a strong, continuous effort on smooth, rolling terrain.
The course: Blue Lake to the Redwoods
The route starts at the Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Reserve at 430 m and passes the Tikitapu / Blue Lake checkpoint at 6 km (434 m), so the opening third stays close to the start elevation with only gentle undulation. From there it works through the forest to the Redwoods checkpoint at 15.9 km (331 m) before finishing at 285 m. The high point of the day is 538 m, and with just 495 m of total climb across 23 km there are no sustained ascents to manage. The shape is a runnable roll through lakeside and forest trail, with the net trend descending from the 430 m start toward the 285 m finish. This is classic Rotorua singletrack terrain: smooth, flowing and quick when you are moving well.
Where the race is decided
On a course this short and this runnable, the T21 is decided by how hard and how evenly you can run rather than by any single climb. The early kilometres from the start past Blue Lake at 6 km sit around the same elevation, so the temptation is to go out fast; the honest challenge is holding that pace as the distance accumulates. The section from Blue Lake to the Redwoods checkpoint at 15.9 km is the meat of the race, and the run-in from the Redwoods to the finish at 285 m is where a well-judged effort pays off. Because there is little vertical to break up the running, staying smooth over the rolling forest trail and finishing strong through the Redwoods is what separates a good result from a fade.
Pacing and fuelling
The cut-offs give a comfortable window for a runner: the Redwoods checkpoint at 15.9 km closes Saturday 15:20 and the finish closes Saturday 17:30. For most participants time pressure is not the concern, so the focus is on running the course to your own capability rather than surviving the clock. At 23 km with modest climbing, fuelling is straightforward: a light, steady intake and good hydration are usually enough, and the checkpoints at Blue Lake and the Redwoods are natural points to top up. Treat it as a fast, sustained effort, carry what you need for a couple of hours of running, and keep enough in reserve to push the descent into the finish.
Conditions to expect
The T21 runs entirely at low elevation, between 285 m and 538 m, through the lakes and forest around Rotorua. Altitude is a non-factor; instead the variables are ground conditions and temperature. New Zealand forest trail can hold moisture, so the smooth singletrack may be soft or damp in places alongside the fast, flowing sections the area is known for. Because the race is short and finishes in the afternoon, plan for warm, potentially exposed running around Blue Lake and cooler, shaded stretches through the Redwoods. Light, grippy trail shoes and simple hydration are the priorities. This is an approachable, runnable introduction to the Tarawera trails, best run as a committed tempo effort over quick forest terrain.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 430 m · —
6 km · 434 m · —
15.9 km · 331 m · Sat 15:20
23 km · 285 m · Sat 17:30
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