The Molesworth Run 2026

The Molesworth Run is an 84 km off-road ultra from Molesworth Cob Cottage to Hanmer Springs, crossing Molesworth Station in the upper South Island of New Zealand. Molesworth is the country’s largest high country station, so this is a remote mountain-road race rather than a town marathon. Runners can enter solo or split the distance in relay teams of two or four, and solo entrants need proven ultra-distance experience plus the ability to cover the course in about 10 hours. The route starts on gravel and climbs Ward Pass, which tops out at 1,145 m, before dropping steeply into Isolated Flat, a wide 250-hectare stretch of grass and tussock. From there the road runs across open country toward the Acheron River, passes the historic Acheron Accommodation House, then follows river country toward Jacks Pass and the final run into Hanmer Springs. The first leg alone is 20 km, with sharp undulations, steep pulls, zig-zags to the pass, and fast open running after the descent.