Tussock Traverse 21km Run | Walk

Your 21km Tussock Traverse Experience

The first 5.5km is a wonderful mix of some sandy and some hard packed 4WD trail with small sections of boardwalk, beech forests and a bridged stream crossing.  After passing the Hut, highlights include passing between Mount Ruapehu on your left and Mount Ngāuruhoe and Tongariro on your right.  You’ll climb to the Tama Saddle before descending homeward on well formed tracks. The final 10km or so are a gentle downhill past the impressive Taranaki Falls and onto the finish line. Overall, the track surface is excellent and the elevation is quite gentle and would make a stunning choice for your first off road Half Marathon.

Click below to view the 21km course map and elevation profile.

ENTRY FEE

Includes pre-event transport from Iwikau Village to your start line (at Waihohonu) and post-event transport from your finish line (Chateau Tongariro) back up to Iwikau Village and a finisher medal!

Your Tussock Traverse Event Day Schedule

WAVE A
6.25am – 7.10am: Late registration officially open inside the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre. The Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre can be found on the corner of SH48 and Tawera Place in the centre of Whakapapa Village.
6.30am: Sunrise
7.25am: Final time to be parked up at Carpark 10 (see the parking and Transport Info below)
7.35am: Buses depart Carpark 10
8.30am: Buses arrive in start area
9.00am: Start
10.35am: Course cut-off to have left Waihohonu Hut
10.37am: First finisher expected
3.00pm: Course cut-off at finish line
5.30pm: Tussock Traverse (all event) prizegiving on the lawn outside the Chateau Tongariro.

WAVE B
6.30am: Sunrise
7.10am – 7.55am: Late registration officially open inside the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre. The Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre can be found on the corner of SH48 and Tawera Place in the centre of Whakapapa Village.
8.10am: Final time to be parked up at Carpark 10 (see the parking and Transport Info below)
8.20am: Buses depart Carpark 10.
9.15am: Buses arrive in start area.
9.45am: Start
11.20am: Course cut-off to have left Waihohonu Hut
11.22am: First finisher expected
3.45pm: Course cut-off at Chateau Tongariro
5.30pm: Tussock Traverse (all event) prizegiving on the lawn outside the Chateau Tongariro.

Additional Information

Minimum Age
Entrants must be 16 years on event day unless an exemption (based on previous performances and proven experience) is granted by our race management team. See the contact page for the best contact details.

Compulsory Gear Required
A wind/rainproof jacket, thermal top, thermal beanie, emergency bag (not blanket) and fluid must be carried during the race. We recommend carrying a minimum of 2L.

Please consider checking out our sponsors, Opus Fresh for your thermal tops and beanie!

Tracks Used
Start on Waihohonu Track near SH1 and follow the Waihohonu Track to the Waihohonu Hut.  Merge with the 32km entrants near the Waihohonu Hut. With 3km to go follow the Lower Taranaki Falls Track to the finish.

Course Cut-Off Times
All 21km entrants not reaching the Waihohonu Hut (approximately 5.5km from the startline) within 95 minutes of their wave start time will be required to exit the event course at the Hut and walk out to the Desert Road with our course crew. All 21km entrants have 6 hours to complete the course.

Gear Check In / Collection Info
Any personal gear (that you don’t want to take on course with you) can be dropped into the Gear Bus parked on the shoulder of SH1/near the entrance of the Waihohonu Track.  Any personal gear dropped to the Gear Bus will be available for collection from approx 11.30am at the finish line.

Parking and Transport Info Post Event
Post-event, a free shuttle will make regular trips from the Chateau Tongariro finish area, 7 minutes up the Bruce road to Carpark 10 for you to collect your vehicle. Shuttle operational from 11.45am – 5.15pm (last trip up).

Aid Stations
There are no aid stations on the course. This is a self-sufficient event, please bring your own hydration and sustenance to support your race plan.