Earlybird entries for next year’s Motatapu off-road event close this Friday (October 31), with organisers reporting strong interest ahead of the 15th edition of the Southern Lakes race.

Event director Gemma Peskett said 2026 had already attracted a range of participants, from milestone celebrations to international visitors.

“We’re seeing amazing stories from participants this year,” she said. “From 50th birthdays to flatmate reunions, people are finding their own unique reasons to make Motatapu 2026 their adventure.”

Among those taking part is 52-year-old Mark Green, who will reunite with four former University of Otago flatmates to tackle the course together.

The group, who studied in Dunedin in the early 1990s, are now based across New Zealand, Australia and Thailand.

“We’ve been trying to meet up over the last couple of years but something always gets in the way,” Mark said. 

“I’ve always wanted to do Motatapu, so I picked the weekend … and talked them all into entering something.”

Mark plans to run the 50 km Rab Ultra, while his friends take on the mountain bike and Miner’s Trail events.

Meanwhile Dutch runner Saskia Van Der Drift will travel from the Netherlands to complete her marathon ‘grand slam’ – a marathon on every continent and the North Pole – at the Motatapu Trail Marathon.

“I only choose the most beautiful and exciting marathons on the continent,” Saskia said.

The annual event takes place on Saturday March 7, 2026. 

It began in 2005 allowing participants to cross the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe high-country stations – private land open to the public for one day only each year. 

Around 4,000 competitors take part across several disciplines including trail running, mountain biking and the ultra-distance Rab run.

Secure earlybird tickets here.

PHOTO: Supplied