Meridian Hydro Half Marathon

It’s time to dust off your bike and head south for an adventure like no other. Take a well-earned break from your every day, and make an offering to the God of Speed. 

Immerse yourself in an event that embraces and is embraced by an entire city. Where eccentricity, persistence and the spirit of amateur endeavour are respected and celebrated. Where locals wave and cheer as you cruise past, and where strangers become friends.

Castaway stereotypes. Invercargill’s inner city streets are lined with bikes of all persuasion: vintage, touring, choppers, classics, hogs, cruisers, sport, and dirt bikes.

Next event date: 5 August 2023
Location: Te Anau
Keen to learn more: fiordlandtrails.nz

Held in August, it’s a fantastic opportunity to experience the bracing freshness of a Fiordland winter’s day, when crisp clear days are the norm.

With mighty Mt Titiroa behind you and the World Heritage Fiordland National Park to your left, the scenery will enthral even the seasoned runner.

Running under the snow-capped mountains, you’ll snake your way through sections of beech forest and alongside the crystal clear Waiau River before finishing up at picture-perfect, lakefront Te Anau.

Starting at the location of the original Hydro Construction Village,  you cross the Te Anau-Manapouri Highway and drop into Balloon Loop where you join the Fiordland Trails Lake2lake track and head on past Rainbow Reach, Horseshoe Bend and onto Queens Reach.

A relaxed and enjoyable vibe flows through the field as you draw inspiration from the breathtaking scenery.

You then follow the Upper Waiau River before reaching the Lake Te Anau Control gates - from here you make your way around the stunning lakefront trail. There’s plenty to take in as you pass Tui Bay and the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary (try spot a takahe or a kākā) before heading along the town waterfront to Lions Park. 

Walkers are welcome to enter the event - but you’ll need to beat the time cut-off buzzer.

Support crews and cheer squads wave you on from the Kepler Track carpark and Tui Bay, and of course, there’s legions of fans at the finish line at Lions Park (not to mention a fantastic kids’ playground).

Listen to the magical sounds of nature, run with a mate, or throw on some sounds to kickstart your experience.

Don’t take it from us though - check out some of the feedback: “I've been banging on to anyone who will listen about how good this event is and how fantastic Te Anau is.”. We couldn’t agree more. 

There’s spot prizes - some of which are awarded during the race - and some at prize giving - a memorable way to wrap up a great event. Then it’s time to check out everything else Fiordland has to offer.

Fiordland (Ata Whenua - Shadowlands) is a place of extraordinary scenic beauty. One of New Zealand’s oldest tourism drawcards, this rugged and remote region offers awe-inspiring landscapes and a wide range of recreational activities. It’s a world-class sightseeing destination and a must-do for anyone exploring New Zealand.

Discover More - Events In Southland

Looking for fun things to do? Southland's events have you covered. Take a break from your every day and discover a wide variety of events with picture-perfect backdrops all year round!

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