The Race
| Next Race Date | Saturday 15 May 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Point-to-point |
| Registration | Open entry, sold out in 2025 |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Anderson Park, York Avenue, Greenmeadows, 08:20 |
| Finish | Elephant Hill Estate & Winery, Te Awanga |
| Total finishers | 1,400 (2025 entries) |
| Avg race-day temp | 12 to 17°C (May) |
| Cutoff time | The course closes at 16:00 |
| Free race-day transport | Partly: free return shuttles, paid outward shuttle |
| Course certification | Not confirmed |
History
The Hawke's Bay Marathon was first run in 2016 as a destination race and not a city-centre championship. Its identity rests on the region's cycle trails, orchards, vineyards and coast, with Napier as the practical hub.
By 2019 the finish festival was based at Elephant Hill Estate & Winery in Te Awanga, which became the race's defining feature. The organiser's tenth-anniversary material describes a group of Founding Runners who have taken part in every edition.
The event has grown quickly. In 2025 the organiser reported 8,000 registered participants across the weekend, including 1,400 in the sold-out marathon. The 2026 edition drew more than 7,200 registered runners from 65 countries, and 81 per cent of them came from outside Hawke's Bay, so the race depends on visitors.
Both course records were set in 2026: Michael Voss ran 2:19:52 and Alice Mason 2:45:44. The race carries no World Athletics Label. It is one of five events in the Runaway Marathon Series, alongside Queenstown, Auckland, Noosa and the Sydney half marathon, and the Runaway MVP programme recognises athletes who complete all five.
The course
The marathon starts at Anderson Park on York Avenue in Greenmeadows and finishes at Elephant Hill Estate & Winery on Clifton Road at Te Awanga, about 14 km apart in a straight line. The organiser describes a flat course, roughly half sealed road and path and half smooth hard-packed limestone on the Hawke's Bay Trails.
From the park the official 2026 map runs north-west through Greenmeadows and Poraiti, then east across the Hawke's Bay Expressway at Westshore to Domain Road at about 12 km and West Quay at Ahuriri at about 16 km. It follows Breakwater Road above the Port of Napier, reaches Marine Parade at about 20 km and follows it south. From about 23 km the course runs along Napier Road at Meeanee, then from about 29 km the Rotary Pathway through Clive and Haumoana, with Beach Road and Clifton Road to the finish.
The organiser publishes no elevation profile and no chart is drawn here. GPS elevation along the 2026 route stays within about 20 m of sea level, which is noise at that scale. The difficulties are the change of surface, the exposed coastal stretches and the logistics of a point-to-point race.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 8: Greenmeadows and Poraiti. The race starts in Anderson Park and heads out through suburban streets. Start groups are released in timed waves, so the first kilometres are about finding room. The route swings through Poraiti on the north-west edge of Napier before turning east. Use it to settle.
Km 8 to 12: Pump Road, the estuary and the expressway. The route reaches Pump Road and Estuary Road at about 8 and 9 km, then follows the Hawke's Bay Expressway through Pandora and Westshore. This is where the surface changes for the first time, onto paths and limestone, and where wind can first be felt.
Km 12 to 17: Westshore and Ahuriri. Domain Road at about 12 km, Ferguson Avenue and Charles Street, then Pandora Road and West Quay at Ahuriri by about 16 km. The setting is urban and industrial, with controlled crossings for traffic and thin support.
Km 17 to 21: Bluff Hill and Marine Parade. Hardinge Road and Breakwater Road lead above the Port of Napier at about 18 to 19 km, the best view of the day for anyone with the energy to look. The route then drops to Marine Parade at about 20 km. The marathon-only halfway timing mat is near Marine Parade at about 21 km, and this is the busiest stretch for spectators.
Km 21 to 29: the coast road south. The route follows Marine Parade south and then Napier Road at Meeanee, a long, straight and exposed run. On a calm autumn day it is fast. Into an onshore wind the exposure makes GPS pace a poor guide to effort.
Km 29 to 38: Clive to Haumoana. The crowds thin. The route takes the Rotary Pathway through Clive and Haumoana, a winding path with several changes of direction, and there is no repeated landmark and no city loop to mark progress. A few runner reports call the last 10 km the hardest part despite the flat profile.
Km 38 to 42.2: Te Awanga. The final stretch uses Beach Road and Clifton Road, exposed after hours of running, and the winery finish is not visible from far out. The finish hub has food, wine and music at Elephant Hill.
The organiser confirms timing mats at the start, halfway and finish. Chip time starts when you cross the start mat, and the disposable chip is on the bib. No shortest-route blue line was documented.
Flat, then the first limestone and the first wind. Find your pace in the timed start group and do not weave.
Westshore, the port and Bluff Hill, then the marathon-only halfway mat on Marine Parade.
Napier Road, Clive and Haumoana on a straight, exposed line. There is no landmark to count down, so run by effort.
Beach Road and Clifton Road to the winery. Keep drinking, because the sun is out and the finish is not visible until close.
Course Map
A point-to-point line from Anderson Park through Ahuriri and Marine Parade to the winery at Te Awanga. The line is the organiser's 2026 course. Tap a marker for the start, the finish, the halfway mat, Athlete Check-In and the shuttle points, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course.
No elevation chart is drawn for this course. The organiser calls it flat and publishes no profile, and GPS elevation along the route stays within about 20 m of sea level, which is within its noise. The line is the official 2026 traffic-impact map.
The organiser describes the marathon as roughly half smooth hard-packed limestone on the Hawke's Bay Trails and half sealed road and path. Road shoes are fine and trail shoes are not needed. Compacted limestone feels different from asphalt and softer after rain, so a runner aiming for a road PB should know this before setting a target.
May in Hawke's Bay is autumn. NIWA's Napier normals give a May mean of about 12.4°C and a mean daily maximum near 16.8°C. The 08:20 start is cool, and later the sun can raise the temperature well above the early feel. Rain and coastal wind are both possible.
Wear kit for the second half and cover the start with a throwaway layer. Discarded clothing at the start or on the course is collected for charity and is not returned, and the organiser says not to leave items at drink stations for later collection. A cap and sunscreen belong on the race-day checklist, because the last third is exposed and slower runners may be out around midday.
Road shoes are fine. The organiser says trail shoes are not needed on the smooth limestone, though runners chasing a PB should know it feels different from asphalt, and softer after rain. Headphones are strongly discouraged. Carry gels for the long gaps, because the organiser lists water and PURE Electrolyte Hydration at drink stations and does not mention gels or food.
Entry
Entry is open. There is no ballot and no general guaranteed-entry route. The published early price for the marathon is NZ$205, about £88, and it includes the bib, a personalised bib if entered before the cutoff, a finisher medal, an athlete gift, on-course support and finish recovery provision. Later price tiers may follow.
Key dates in the current schedule: personalised bibs by 11 April, online transport tickets by 12 May, and online entry until 17:00 on 14 May, with in-person late registration at Athlete Check-In if the race has not sold out. The 2025 marathon sold out with 1,400 entrants, so the online closing date is an administrative limit and not a safe plan.
Faster start groups use performance evidence. For 2027 the proof is an official or self-timed result recorded between May 2025 and May 2027, at least 10 km long, meeting the pace threshold on the form. This affects placement, not eligibility. Predicted finish times can be changed until 11 April, and final start-group times are posted about four weeks before the race.
Refunds are partial and date-limited: 45 per cent up to 20 February, 22 per cent up to 3 April, and none after that. There is no standard deferral. Person-to-person transfers within the same distance cost NZ$27 and close on 14 May. Distance changes are possible while capacity remains, and moving down forfeits the difference. A Run for Charity programme exists.
Fast runner standards
There is no good-for-age route and no qualifying standard. Faster start groups need evidence of a recent result.
Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon entry →Race Weekend
Athlete Check-In and the expo
Athlete Check-In is mandatory. For 2027 it is scheduled for Friday 14 May from 10:00 to 21:00 at the Napier War Memorial Centre, 48 Marine Parade. The Sports and Lifestyle Expo runs there from 10:00 to 19:00 and the merchandise store stays open until 21:00. Times and venue are subject to change.
If you cannot attend, another person can collect for you with a copy of your race-week QR-code email. The bib carries the disposable timing chip, and you receive the official gear bag and bag tag for race-day bag drop.
The venue is on Marine Parade in central Napier, a few minutes' walk from the Napier i-SITE where the race-morning shuttle leaves. International runners should plan to be in Napier by Friday afternoon. Hawke's Bay Airport handles domestic flights only, so most visitors connect through Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, and a late Friday connection is a real risk.
Getting to the start
The marathon starts at 08:20 at Anderson Park, York Avenue, Greenmeadows, based on the previous year. Start groups are assigned by predicted finish time and released in timed intervals, and chip timing begins when you cross the start mat.
Getting there. The race is point-to-point, so transport matters. The simplest option from central Napier is the official shuttle from the Napier i-SITE on Marine Parade, NZ$18, departing between 07:00 and 07:30. From Hastings or Havelock North, the Tomoana Showgrounds shuttle leaves at 07:15. Tickets must be bought online through your registration profile before 17:00 on 12 May, or at Athlete Check-In subject to availability. All-day parking is available at the Showgrounds and there is none at Elephant Hill.
At the start. Toilets, medical support and staff are at the start. Anderson Park is an open park, so warm-up space is easier than at a tight city start. The 10 km and half marathon start elsewhere, so follow the marathon map.
Bag drop. Only the official event gear bag can be used, labelled with the tag from Check-In. Bags go to Elephant Hill and must be collected by 16:30.
Clothing. May mornings can be cool. A throwaway layer suits a cold or damp forecast, and sunscreen and a cap belong in the bag too.
Finish. Runners enter the Elephant Hill hub. Water, PURE nutrition, bananas, rest space and medical facilities are available, and medical facilities are open from 07:00 to 16:30. There is no athlete parking at Elephant Hill. A free post-race shuttle takes runners to the Showgrounds and to the Napier i-SITE without booking, with the last departures at 15:45 to the Showgrounds and 16:00 to the i-SITE.
Rules. Headphones are strongly discouraged and not banned. Wheeled conveyances, prams, scooters, bikes, inline skates and accompanying animals are not permitted.
Nutrition on course
The marathon has 11 drink stations. Every station provides water, PURE Electrolyte Hydration, toilets and first aid. The organiser puts kilometre positions on the course map and not in text, so station distances are not stated here. Eleven stations over 42 km average one every 3.8 km.
The organiser lists no gel or food on the course, and the second half is the more exposed, so carry your own gels and drink plan. Practise with PURE Electrolyte Hydration in training if you plan to rely on it.
Do not leave items at drink stations for retrieval later, because the organiser collects them for charity. At the finish, take water, PURE nutrition and bananas, and collect the gear bag from the hub.
| Provision | Marathon detail |
|---|---|
| Water | All 11 drink stations |
| Sports drink | PURE Electrolyte Hydration |
| Toilets | At drink stations |
| First aid | At drink stations, plus mobile and on-course medical support |
| Finish nutrition | Water, PURE nutrition and bananas |
Spectating
A point-to-point course with a finish in a vineyard is a poor course to chase by car. Roads are closed and there is no parking at Elephant Hill, so the best plan is two or three sightings plus the finish, using the free event shuttle for the last leg. The Runaway Marathon Series app has athlete tracking, which is the best tool for timing movements.
The 2026 traffic-impact map suggests practical spectator points: Domain Road at Westshore at about 12 km, the port roads at about 15 to 16 km, and Marine Parade in Napier around the halfway point at about 21 km. The finish is the best single spot. All distances converge at Elephant Hill, and the festival is built for supporters.
- Watch at Ahuriri after the opening loop
- Walk or use local transport to Marine Parade for a second sighting near halfway
- Take the 08:45 spectator shuttle from the Napier i-SITE to Elephant Hill for the finish
- Base at the Tomoana Showgrounds, with all-day parking
- Take the free spectator shuttle to Elephant Hill, which runs from 07:30
- Use the app tracker to time the runner's arrival
- Skip the course
- Take the free spectator shuttle from the Showgrounds or the Napier i-SITE directly to Elephant Hill
- Wait at the finish festival
Post-race food
The first food is in the finish hub itself. The organiser promises food vendors, and documents water, PURE nutrition and bananas immediately after the finish. For a runner whose legs are finished, staying at Elephant Hill until the free shuttle is often more practical than leaving for a restaurant.
For a sit-down meal, central Napier has the easiest concentration of options. The Art Deco Masonic Hotel and its restaurant sit in the centre of town, and the Mangapapa Hotel near Havelock North is more formal and needs booking. Reconfirm opening days before race weekend. The 08:20 start and the last shuttle at 16:00 mean most runners are back in Napier by late afternoon, so book dinner for the evening.
Where to Stay
Stay in Napier, not at the finish. The start is at Anderson Park in Greenmeadows and the finish is at Elephant Hill at Te Awanga, where there is no athlete parking, so a hotel near the finish would leave a runner far from the start, Check-In and the shuttles. The free post-race shuttle returns runners to Napier.
Napier CBD and Marine Parade
The simplest base. Athlete Check-In is at the War Memorial Centre on Marine Parade, the Napier i-SITE shuttle is here, and the neighbourhood has the largest concentration of hotels, restaurants and flat walking. Even a central hotel does not remove event transport. Rooms on the waterfront can be livelier at night, and race-weekend premiums apply.
Ahuriri
Quieter, with waterfront cafés and the harbour trail. The Crown Hotel is about 2.1 km from the i-SITE shuttle point, so allow extra time for a walk or a taxi.
Greenmeadows and Taradale
The start-area choice. Staying here cuts the journey to Anderson Park, but Check-In is still in central Napier and the post-race shuttle returns to the i-SITE or Hastings and not to a Greenmeadows hotel. Accommodation is limited.
Hastings and the Showgrounds side
Works well for runners travelling by car or with a group. The marathon shuttle leaves from the Showgrounds and the free return goes back there. Better value, but less convenient for Friday Check-In.
Havelock North
A strong leisure base for a food and wine weekend, with boutique accommodation and restaurants. It needs more planning for Check-In and race morning, and suits runners who put the destination first.
Haumoana and Te Awanga
Closest to the finish and attractive for a post-race stay, but poor before the race because the start is far away. Accommodation is limited and a car is needed. Use them as an extension.
Booking advice is in the timeline below.
Recommended hotels
A waterfront hotel close to Check-In and central services. Plan the i-SITE shuttle for the race.
Very close to the i-SITE and Marine Parade, which suits Check-In and shuttles. The central location can be busy and noisy.
A quieter waterfront base near the course and cafés. Less direct than the CBD for Check-In.
A serviced apartment hotel with a kitchen, useful for a self-catered pre-race breakfast. Race-weekend rates were not checked.
A destination-style stay with an on-site restaurant, best for a recovery night. Expensive and car-dependent for Friday Check-In.
Booking timeline
Book when you enter. The 2025 marathon sold out with 1,400 runners and the weekend drew about 8,000 participants, most of them from outside Hawke's Bay. Napier's most convenient waterfront hotels are finite and boutique Havelock North properties can fill. Book a cancellable rate as soon as entry is secure.
Hotel supply is spread across Napier, Hastings and Havelock North, which reduces total scarcity but not the premium in the most convenient areas. The race website links to Booking.com and has no official block rate.
Hawke's Bay Airport is domestic, so international visitors connect through Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Athlete Check-In on Friday is compulsory, so arrive on Friday afternoon at the latest, and Thursday if you are coming from overseas. Shuttle tickets must be bought online by 12 May, so book flights and hotels before the shuttle.
See & Do
The Art Deco centre of Napier is next to the Marine Parade hotels, and the wine country and Te Mata Peak lie south towards the finish.
Art Deco Trust guided walk, Napier
Guided walks run daily on an off-peak schedule from 1 April to 30 September, so do not assume summer hours. The walk is short, level and central. Book ahead.
MTG Hawke's Bay and the Napier waterfront
Close to the central hotels and easy to combine with a short Art Deco walk. Check opening details.
Te Mata Peak
One of the region's main viewpoints. The day after a marathon, drive to the upper viewing area and take a short walk and not a long climb. Check weather and road access in May.
Hawke's Bay Trails
The trail network the race uses continues across the region. A gentle e-bike ride is recovery-friendly, and a long self-powered ride the day after 42.2 km is not. May is autumn, so winery hours vary.
Cape Kidnappers
A major regional attraction, but gannet tours are seasonal and May is around the end of the main season. Confirm access for the exact weekend before planning.
After the Race
May is autumn in New Zealand, and legs are tired after 42.2 km. The trips below start with a compact day in Napier and grow into the North Island road trip.
A flat, compact day of guided architecture, a museum and lunch on the Ahuriri waterfront, with almost no travel.
A night in boutique accommodation, with cellar doors, Te Mata Peak by car and a slow food weekend in autumn.
A lakefront town with geothermal sights, a low-effort base for runners continuing around the North Island.
New Zealand's capital, with free museums and a compact harbourfront, and onward connections.