Legend of the Peaks Running & Walking Festival 2026

Legend of the Peaks takes participants into Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand. The terrain features volcanic ground, forest ascents, and technical paths. The main event is the New Zealand Forest Marathon, a 42km off-road marathon covering approximately 1,750m of elevation gain. The event also includes the 50.2km Whaka Ultra, the 21km Moerangi Half Marathon, the 10km Titokorangi 10K, the 5km Trig Loop, and shorter events for children and elders. The longer races are demanding trail runs. The Whaka Ultra crosses remote singletrack, ascends about 2,240m, and summits several peaks. The forest marathon crosses four peak summits. The half marathon features two significant climbs, and the 10K includes around 430m of elevation over two smaller peaks. The 5K offers well-maintained forest trails with 145m of climbing for less experienced trail users. The weekend accommodates first-time participants, walkers, seasoned trail runners, children, and elders, complemented by an expo, music, and food.