Half Marathon
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HALF MARATHON
The half marathon distance at the Maraetai Half Marathon is one of the most scenic coastal courses you will find anywhere in the land. It passes through two regional parks, joined by a stunning ribbon of road that undulates past beachs and rocky headlands, never more than a hop, skip and jump from the sparkling waters of the Waitemata Harbour.
The loop through Duders Regional Park includes a challenging climb up the trig point, with the reward of possibily the single best view anywhere in the Auckland region.
There are many events claiming to have the "most scenic" course in New Zealand. The Maraetai Half Marathon leaves that up to you to decide.
RACE DISTANCE
21.1 km
START TIME
07:30 am
Walkers @ 7:33am
TIME LIMIT
3.5 hrs
AGE LIMIT
14 yrs
On Race Day
The Course
The Maraetai Half Marathon course features two loops joined together by a long, coastal out-and-back. The race starts with a short section on the main Beachlands-Maraetai Road before joining the esplanade through Beachlands and Maraetai. The coastal road to Duders has some easy undulations at it passes each headland.
The loop through Duders Regional Park, from 8-13k, has one signficant climb to the trig point for the best views in Auckand. After a long descent which takes you past the historic Duder homestead, you retrace your route all the way back ot the entrance to Omana Regional Park. A gentle climb on utility path offers more views of the harbour before the stunning final section downhill to the finish line. Mint!
Race Info at a Glance
The Basics |
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| Race | HALF MARATHON |
| Race Distance | 21.1km |
| Event Date | Sunday, March 9th, 2025 |
| Start Time | 7:30am (Competitive Walkers @ 7:33am) |
| Time Limit | 3.5 Hours |
| Awards Ceremony | 11am (approx 30 mins duration) |
| Age Limit | Participants must be 14 years or older on race day |
| Tickets & Fees | See the enter page |
| Number Collection | AHMS Series Pass entrants will receive all five race numbers by courier one week prior to the first event. All other entrants must collect their race number at the Event Venue from 2-4pm on Saturday (the day before the event) or from 6am on race morning. |
| Race Rules | See our general Competition Rules here. |
Event Base |
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|---|---|
| Location | Te Puru Park, Whitford-Maraetai Road, Beachlands. Google locators: [start line pin] [finish line pin] |
| Access & Parking | See the dedicated Traffic & Transport page. |
| Refuelling Station | All race finishers will receive a can of SUPA sport drink and a banana/snack when they cross the line. Water will be available from the Refuelling station outside of the finish chute. |
| Toilets | Portaloos will be located adjacent to the main car park, around 100m to the east of the finish line. We strongly recommend participants make use of public toilets on the way to the event on race morning. |
On Course |
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| Course Map | See Course Maps & Descriptions |
| Directions | Look out for our directional arrows at all turns and intersections. These will either be a white arrow on a blue circle or - for more detailed instructions - a yellow sandwich board setup on the road. Marshals are also present at all changes of direction. |
| Pacers | Pacers will attempt to guide particpants to achieve specified finish times in 10 minute increments from 1hr 30m to 2hr 20m. You can find out more information on them here. |
| Pedestrians & Dogs | Please be respectful of the public for those few cases where you are sharing a footpath. Friendly, well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome at the event venue however participants must not be accompanied by pets. |
| Toilets | Public toilets are available at the following locations: > Omana Esplanade (2.5km & 19km) > Maraetai (3.5km & 18km) > Magazine Bay (5k & 16k) Event portaloos are also available at "Hot Corner" in Duders Beach (8k &13.5k) |
| Aid Stations | Aid Stations are located at: > 2.2km / Omana Esplanade > 5.3km / Magazine Bay > 7.8km / Hot Corner, Duder's Beach > 13.4km / Hot Corner, Duder's Beach > 16km / Magazine Bay > 19km / Omana Esplanade Stations will serve water and PURE Electrolyte Hydration. |
Awards & Results |
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| Results | 2025 results will be here and updated live throughout the event. Scan the QR code on your race number to be taken directly to your personal result page. |
| Scoring | In the spirit of athletic competition, awards will be given based on positions across the finish line (a.k.a. "gun time"). However, online results will show - and be ranked upon - the actual time taken between start and finish line (a.k.a. "net time"). |
| Merit Awards | Trophies will be awarded as follows: > Top 3 Male & Top 3 Female overall > Top 3 Male & Top 3 Female in the Competitive Walk category |
| Participation Awards | All finishers receive the 2025 Maraetai Half Marathon finisher medal. A finish at this event also qualifies as part four of the five part qualification for the Auckland Half Marathon Series Grand Slam Medal. |
| Competitive Walkers | To be eligible to compete in the Competitive Walk category, you must: 1/ Be registered in the Competitive Walk category, 2/ Start on the Competitive Walk starting signal (normally 3 minutes after the main race start) 3/ Walk at all times whilst completing the race distance. Full details and information are available on our dedicated Walkers page. |
| Virtual Event | Couldn't make it to the event on race day? You can still record a finish time, earn yourself a finisher medal and continue your pursuit of the AHMS Grand Slam medal by completing the event virtually. Carefully read and adhere to the instructions on our dedicated Virtual Events page. |
Safety |
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| On Course | You must always remain fully aware of your surroundings and look out for uneven surfaces, obstacles or vehicles. Even where the road is closed, we cannot guarantee it will be traffic-free. Only proceed where you are satisfied it is safe to do so. |
| Medics | Medical services will be provided by First Aid NZ. In the case of an emergency, marshals or race crew will contact the on-site medical team in the first instance and - should there be any delay - dial 111. Important! In certain circumstances, on-site medics may be able to respond to an emergency faster than 111. |
| Marshals | Please obey the marshals where they are acting for your safety. Marshals can make emergency calls on your behalf or contact event medical staff. |
Discover the Pohutukawa Coast this summer ...
... sign up for the Maraetai Half Marathon here.