Event Info

 
 

Event Date: SATURDAY 14 november 2026

Event Base: Dickey Flat ADVENTURE CAMP, Waihi

Whether you're chasing a new challenge, ticking off your first trail event, or bringing the whole family along for an epic day out, Trail Challenge Waihi has an option for you. Choose a distance option from the 8km Trail Run/Walk right up to the 42.2km Marathon, or let the little legends loose in the 1km Trail Tigers Kids Dash! Expect riverside trails, native bush, swing bridges, historic railway tunnels, and plenty of Karangahake Gorge magic along the way

MARATHON 42.2km - Run only
HALF MARATHON 21.1km - Run or Walk
13KM TRAIL- Run or Walk
8KM TRAIL - Run or Walk
Trail Tigers Kids Dash

IMPORTANT EVENT DAY INFO

This is your go-to hub for everything you need to know for your event day. Make sure you’ve read the below to make the most of your event!

KAURI DIEBACK PREVENTION - IMPORTANT

We are very privileged to have access to some wonderful tracks through some amazing native bush around the Karangahake Gorge area and we want to keep it that way! Kauri dieback disease is be a soil-borne species that can be spread by a pinhead of soil. To help prevent the spread of this disease we must take the following steps:

  • All footwear must be free from all visible soil before arriving at the event.

  • Footwear should then be disinfected once soil has been removed. All participants will use mats filled with SteriGene disinfectant prior to race starts.

  • Stay on tracks and off Kauri roots.

All participant footwear will be checked before you are able to register. Please have footwear ready for inspection whenever you come to collect your registration. This includes at the Friday night pre registration venue.

For further information on what you can do to help please see online here: www.kauriprotection.co.nz

  • All events start and finish at Event Base which is located at Dickey Flat Adventure Camp, 111 Dickey Flat Road, Waikino, 3682

    Parking will be available on private land next to the event base. Head to Dickey's Flat Campsite and our parking marshals will direct you from there.

    CARPOOLING

    Stunning locations such as this are not designed to hold 100’s of cars and car parking space is not infinite, so we hugely appreciate any efforts to carpool to events.
    It is also a great way to meet new buddies that you already have a common interest with!

  • PRE REGISTRATION

    Date: Friday 13 November 2026
    Location:    Waihi Memorial RSA, Seddon Street, Waihi
    Time 4:00pm - 7:00pm
    Collect your race number (with timing chip), race pack and merchandise ordered at Friday’s registration.
    Please ensure you have all compulsory gear with your for checking - No registrations will be issued without compulsory gear.‍ ‍
    You may collect these for other people, you will need their full name and race category plus their compulsory gear.

    REGISTRATION ON EVENT DAY

    You can also collect your race number and race pack etc on Saturday morning from 6:30am at the Dickey’s Flat Campground event base (start/finish line).
    Please head to the Registration Barn, registrations will be split alphabetically by surname e.g. A to G, H to O & P to Z.

    LATE ENTRIES

    This event is likely to sell out - in which case, there will be no late entries available.

  • This applies to all courses except 42.2km Marathon.

    Wave starts are in place to reduce congestion on the trails as the courses narrow very quickly to single file swing bridges. You will be asked to select your estimated finish time when you register and you will then be assigned a start wave. Your start wave letter (e.g. Wave A) will be printed on your race number and you will be called to the start line in waves. You must start in your allocated wave.
    Wave start times will be provided in the Event Information Email prior to race day.

  • Compulsory event briefings will be held 15 minutes before the start of each event.

    • Marathon 42.2km – 7:30am (no waves starts)

    • Half Marathon 21.1km Run - 9:00am

    • Half Marathon 21.1km Walk - 9:20am

    • 13km Adventure Run - 9:40am

    • 13km Adventure Walk - 10:00am

    • 8km Trail Run – 10:30am

    • 8km Trail Walk - 10:45am

    • Trail Tigers - 12:30pm (no wave starts)

  • All courses (with the exception of Trail Tigers Kids Dash) are required to carry a torch or headlamp with them for some dark tunnel fun! This is a compulsory requirement and participants will not be allowed to start without it.

    Marathon 42.2km have additional compulsory gear, please see full information HERE

  • All our events are cup free in an effort to minimise our waste production. Both out on course and when you return to the finish line. Please remember your reusable cup, hydration pack or water bottle to fill up.
    There will be collapsible cups ($5) or soft flasks ($10) available for purchase at event base.

  • There will be a gear tent at event base for you to leave any essentials while you are out running. Please be mindful we have limited storage available so compact bags are appreciated. We will provide tags to label your bag.

  • The team from Photos4Sale will be on site at the event to capture all the magic of the day!
    Your personal photos will be available online after the event, and their unique Pay What You Want initiative means there is nothing stopping you grabbing an action shot or two!
    Head to online to their Event Calendar and enter your race number to find your photos.

  • 8km Trail Run / Walk

    • Children aged 8 and under are not able to participate in this event distance without prior approval.

    • It is suggested children 11 and under run/walk with a parent or guardian.

    13km Adventure Run / Walk

    • Children aged 11 and under are not able to participate in this event distance without prior approval.

    Half Marathon

    • Children aged 14 and under are not able to participate in this event distance without prior approval.

    Marathon

    • Children aged 16 and under are not able to participate in this event distance without prior approval.

  • Due to the increase of bait stations and poison laid in the area, dogs are not permitted at the event site in Dickey Flat Adventure Camp for their own safety. So please make sure our furry friends are left at home on event weekend.

QUALWORX SAFETY CERTIFICATION

Trail Events NZ has a Safety Management System that has been audited and certified by Qualworx against the Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities.

Although this is not compulsory for us as we aren’t classed as an ‘adventure activity operator’, we do it voluntarily to make sure we keep our most important asset (YOU GUYS! 😊) as safe as we can!