Rotorua Marathon, live.

Around Lake Rotorua, the 1965 way

The Rotorua Marathon has been run around Lake Rotorua since 1965.

The 2027 Rotorua Marathon is on Saturday 1 May. The marathon goes once around Lake Rotorua and is now run anti clockwise, the same direction as the first race in 1965 and the first time in over 50 years that the course has gone this way round.

There are four distances. The half marathon starts at 7:30 at Hamurana Springs on the north side of the lake. The 10 km starts at Te Puia, the geothermal valley known for the Pōhutu Geyser. The 5 km starts at 8:20. Every race finishes at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside in town.

The 2026 race was the 62nd edition, which says a lot about how deeply the event is rooted in the town and in New Zealand running. The course around the lake mixes rural roads, lake views and the steam and smell of a geothermal city. The event is organised by Athletics New Zealand.

Spectators can gather at the lakefront finish, which is in the centre of Rotorua, or drive to points around the lake before the roads close. Early May mornings can be cool, so warm layers help while waiting.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from the Rotorua Marathon.