Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 2026
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB - TMiler
Rotorua (Te Puia) → Rotorua (Village Green)
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Tarawera TMiler is the flagship distance of Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB, covering 163 km from Te Puia in Rotorua to the Village Green finish with 3,719 m of cumulative climbing and a high point of 730 m. The route threads through the volcanic heartland of New Zealand's North Island, linking geothermal reserves, lake shorelines, ancient forest and farm tracks in a route that demands sustained movement over two days rather than explosive climbing. With a finish cut-off of 16:00 on Day 2, the race rewards runners who respect its breadth — 163 km is a long way to hold form, and the relatively modest elevation profile can lull first-timers into moving too hard, too soon.
Course & Terrain Overview
The route leaves Te Puia (310 m) and threads through the geothermal landscape around Rotorua before climbing toward Rotokakahi at 21.5 km (457 m) and passing through the Buried Village at 29.9 km. The middle section runs deep into the volcanic plateau, reaching the Rerewhakaaitu aid station at 56 km before looping back through Outlet (88.8 km) and Otamuri (102.7 km, 417 m). From Okataina at 118.6 km the course begins its return arc through the iconic Blue and Green Lakes area, passing Tikitapu at 145.9 km and the Redwoods at 155.7 km before dropping to the Village Green finish at 285 m. Underfoot surfaces shift constantly — expect compacted geothermal paths, rooted forest singletrack, lake-edge trails and open farm crossings. The high point of 730 m means no single climb is alpine in character, but the relentless rolling terrain accumulates fatigue across the full 163 km.
Decisive Sections — Where the Race Is Won or Lost
Despite the modest high point, the section from Rerewhakaaitu (56 km) through to Otamuri (102.7 km) is where races unravel. This central block covers roughly 47 km with no crew access, and runners who arrive at Outlet (88.8 km) already depleted will struggle to make the Okataina crew point at 118.6 km in usable shape. The forest trails approaching and leaving Okataina demand technical attention when legs are heavy; the climbs here are short but abrupt. The final 45 km from Okataina to the finish through Tikitapu and the Redwoods look benign on paper but the cumulative 3,719 m of climbing sits in your legs by this point. Runners who banked patience in the first half consistently find they can push hard from Tikitapu (145.9 km) inward; those who went out fast are merely surviving.
Pacing Strategy — The Patient Deposit
The dominant lesson from experienced TMiler finishers is deceptively simple: the first half is a deposit, not a race. The early kilometres out of Te Puia through to Buried Village feel open and free — the terrain is runnable and the legs are fresh. Resist. An almost social pace through the first 56 km to Rerewhakaaitu is not wasted time; it is the investment that funds a strong second half. The real race begins on the far side of the first night. Runners who reach the 88.8 km Outlet checkpoint still feeling controlled, having banked sleep-debt management and consistent eating, are in a position to race from Okataina onward. Think of the back half as a closer: trust it. Breaking the final 60 km into smaller mental segments — crew point to crew point, Tikitapu to Redwoods to finish — converts a daunting stretch into a series of manageable resets rather than a single overwhelming distance.
Fuelling & Aid Station Strategy
With crew access at Te Puia (0 km), Puarenga (10.6 km), Buried Village (29.9 km), Rerewhakaaitu (56 km), Okataina (118.6 km), Tikitapu (145.9 km), Redwoods (155.7 km) and the finish, the TMiler offers generous crew opportunities in the first and final thirds. The critical no-crew window is Rerewhakaaitu (56 km) to Okataina (118.6 km) — a 62.6 km stretch with aid only at Outlet (88.8 km) and Otamuri (102.7 km). Leave Rerewhakaaitu with enough calories and fluid to comfortably cover this block without rationing. In New Zealand's summer heat, sweat rates on exposed sections between lakes can be significant; prioritise electrolytes as well as carbohydrates through the middle section. Use crew points actively: change socks, address any hot spots, eat a real-food meal at Rerewhakaaitu and again at Okataina — these are the two pivotal resupply moments in the race.
Conditions to Expect
The Tarawera TMiler runs in February, squarely in the New Zealand summer. Rotorua sits at around 280–300 m elevation and the course rarely climbs above 730 m, meaning there is no alpine cold to contend with — but heat and humidity are genuine factors, particularly through the exposed lakeside and farm sections in the middle of the course. Morning mist is common around the geothermal zones near the start, and afternoon temperatures can climb significantly in open terrain. Night sections through dense native forest will be cooler but humidity stays high; a light insulating layer for the overnight stretch is worth carrying. The volcanic soils drain well but localised muddy sections in shaded forest are normal regardless of recent rainfall. Pack mandatory gear knowing the weather can shift — conditions at 3 am in the forest between Okataina and Tikitapu feel very different from the warm afternoon out of Te Puia.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 310 m · —
10.6 km · 336 m · —
21.5 km · 455 m · —
29.9 km · 401 m · Sat 10:45
45.5 km · 334 m · —
56.1 km · 472 m · Sat 16:30
66.3 km · 475 m · —
76.7 km · 372 m · —
88.9 km · 307 m · Sat 23:45
102.7 km · 399 m · —
113.5 km · 554 m · —
118.7 km · 419 m · Sun 06:20
134 km · 477 m · —
145.9 km · 433 m · Sun 12:20
155.8 km · 324 m · Sun 14:30
163.1 km · 285 m · Sun 16:07
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