Prepare for an enchanting off-road trail running journey through the bucolic landscape of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.

The immersive and unique Middle-earth™ Halfling™ Marathon allows runners and walkers to explore the picturesque rolling green hills and storybook landscapes of the Waikato countryside. This course is all about the views!

You will begin your journey at Buckland Landing with breath-taking views across the valley and the mighty Kaimai Ranges in the distance. You will then twist and turn through the farmland, following the trails created by the farm’s inhabitants, with a couple of steep inclines to keep even the most seasoned runners honest.

You will soon arrive at Hobbiton where you’ll wind your way through half the village and pass numerous hobbit holes tucked into the hillsides. Don’t worry though, you’ll be back soon to see the other half! You leave the village and head back onto the farm, through paddocks, around ponds, and taking in the amazing views of the valley below.

You’re in for a treat when you arrive at the Watering Hole, past Halflings have enjoyed a refreshing dip at this point in their journey and you are more than welcome to do so too. The best thing about this is, you’ll be back here after a 2km loop. Halfway around this loop, make sure you pause at the highest point on the course and take in another breath-taking view of the valley. From here you can see all the way there and back again.

Your adventure is close to coming to an end, through more farmland before you wind your way through the other half of the Hobbiton village. Before you leave the village, how about stopping for a quick tipple to quench your thirst at The Green Dragon Inn?

Only a few kilometres left on this amazing journey and adventure before you’ll venture up one final climb to arrive at the finish line across from The Shire’s Rest, where your fellowship of supporters will be waiting.

Elevation gain: 526m

Aid Stations at 4.9km, 6.9km, 9.5km, 11.5km, 16.5km, and 19.3km.

Explore the Halfling Marathon course here. 

A course cut-off will be enforced at the 10km point at 2.20pm, 2 hours 20 minutes into your run/walk. You will still be allowed to finish, we will just send you on a little short-cut. This is for your safety, we don’t want you finishing in the dark!

Prepare for an enchanting off-road trail running journey through the bucolic landscape of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.

The immersive and unique Middle-earth Halfling Marathon™ allows runners and walkers to explore the picturesque rolling green hills and storybook landscapes of the Waikato countryside. This course is all about the views!

You will begin your journey at Buckland Landing with breath-taking views across the valley and the mighty Kaimai Ranges in the distance. You will then twist and turn through the farmland, following the trails created by the farm’s inhabitants, with a couple of hills to keep even the most seasoned runners honest.

You will soon arrive at Hobbiton where you’ll wind your way through half the village and numerous hobbit holes tucked into the hillside. Don’t worry though, you’ll be back soon to see the other half! You leave the village and back onto the farm, through paddocks, where you will arrive at the Watering Hole, past Halflings have enjoyed a refreshing dip at this point in their journey, and you are more than welcome to do so too. Before making your way through the other half of the Hobbiton village. Before you leave the village, how about stopping for a quick tipple to quench your thirst at The Green Dragon Inn?

Only a few kilometres left on this amazing journey and adventure before you’ll arrive at the finish line across from The Shire’s Rest, where your fellowship of supporters will be waiting.

Elevation gain: 242m

Aid Stations at 1.8km, 3.8km, 6.4km and 9.3km

Explore the Eleventy-first course here.

Aid stations will be supplied with water, hydration, chips, lollies, and fruit.

To minimise waste and our environmental impact we will have no disposable cups at the drink stations. All entrants will receive a complimentary Middle-earth Halfling Marathon branded collapsible reusable water cup to use at the drink stations. You are also welcome to bring your own bottle or hydration pack if you wish. The stations are equipped for you to refill these and we will have volunteers ready to help you fill your vessel as quickly as possible.

Toilets are located at the 6.9km, 9.5km, 11.5km, and 19.3km aid stations. (3.8km, 6.4km and 9.3km for 11.1km)

First Aid will be available on the course by a roving Peak Safety team member. Basic first aid kits will be available at each aid station.

All courses are marshalled and signposted. The courses are not suitable for wheelchairs and all entrants must complete the same course. Please obey marshals at all times.

No dogs on the courses please. Supporters and spectators must not accompany runners and walkers at any stage during the event.

Children aged 16 and under are not able to participate in these events without prior approval.

Registrations will be open online until 1pm Saturday 22 March or capacity numbers are reached.

If registering in person on event day, this will need to be completed online using a debit or credit card and will be subject to availability. Cash transactions will not be available. 

Registration includes:

• Middle-earth Halfling Marathon Finishers medal 
• Entry to Hobbiton Movie Set as part of the course
• Middle-earth Halfling Marathon branded Event Stein with a finish line drink
• Middle-earth Halfling Marathon branded Event reusable water cup
• An exclusive Hobbit Southfarthing drink at The Green Dragon Inn during the race
• Aid stations along the course with water toilets and first aid
• Race Photography
• Exclusive rates for selected Hobbiton Movie Set Tour experiences over the weekend of the event
• The opportunity to win spot Prizes
• Access to the Halfling Event Village, where prizegiving will be held and food and drinks are available to be purchased 

You will be able to check in/register for the event at The Hub, located across the carpark from The Shire's Rest, 501 Buckland Road Matamata, from 3pm-7pm on Friday 21 March 2025, or on race day from 9am until 1 hour before race start on Saturday 22 March 2025.

You will be able to check in/register for the event at The Hub, located across the carpark from The Shire's Rest, 501 Buckland Road Matamata, from 3pm-7pm on Friday 21 March 2025, or on race day from 9am until 1 hour before race start on Saturday 22 March 2025.

If you have checked in on Friday then you do not need to re-check in on Saturday morning. Arrive at least 45 minutes before your race start time, to allow time for parking, a quick warm up & the race briefing.

Yes, we have a free, dry and secure bag check available. Keep an eye out for bag check signs at the start and finish line.

Bags need to be tagged with your bib number and name, tags are available at check in and at the start line. Bags should be dropped at the start line at Buckland Landing, located across the road from the Halfling Event Village. While you are on the course, bags will be moved by event staff to the finish line to be collected after you have completed your event. 

A course cut-off will be enforced at the 10km point at 2.20pm, 2 hours 20 minutes into your run/walk. You will still be allowed to finish, we will just send you on a little short-cut. This is for your safety, we don’t want you finishing in the dark!

We will be offering free return transport options from Matamata isite and across the road from the Cambridge isite and town hall, there will be ample parking available at each location.

Parking at The Shire’s Rest is limited and only available for participants who select this option at time of registration. An official parking pass will be issued to participants who select this option before the event and must be presented on arrival on the event day.

If you want to check which parking/transport option you requested as part of your registration, you can check this by logging into your Event Plus account. If you're unsure or would like to change your parking/transport option, you can contact our team at [email protected].

If you are unable to make it for the event, you have the option of Transferring your Registration to someone else up until 28 February 2025. Click here for more information.

Yes you can change your category and transfer your registration up until 28 February 2025 by logging into to your account on the Event Plus system. See our terms and conditions for this event for more information. 

Of course, we would love for you to bring your fellowship along to support. Supporters and spectators will be able to access the Halfling Event Village at The Shire’s Rest throughout the race duration and will be able to access the start and finish lines at set times. Only race participants will be able to access the Movie Set and surrounding farmland during the race. 

Not during the event. Only event participants will enter the Movie Set as a part of their event course. Spectators will be able to access the Halfling Village at The Shire's Rest, and the start and finish line zones at Buckland Landing. 

We will be offering a range of special exclusive tour experiences for spectators and participants on the Sunday to enjoy a visit to the Movie Set on the Sunday, or the opportunity to join one of our regularly scheduled tours at a special rate. You will be sent information on how to access these exclusive deals within your event confirmation. 

No, sorry. 

The Halfling Event Village will have a variety of food trucks and food and beverage options as well as our onsite café The Shires Rest.

Our good friends at Good George will be onsite with a range of alcoholic & non-alcoholic (water, electrolyte and soft drinks) beverages available for purchase at the event.

Cash is king though some of our food suppliers will have eftpos options available.

Prizegiving will take place at the Halfling Event Village at 5.45pm on race day, 22 March 2025. 

It is advised that you wear comfortable shoes on the course. Be sure to prepare for the elements event day may bring by wearing sun protection and bringing along some wet weather gear. 

We look forward to seeing the amazing costumes we know many participants will choose to wear on event day. We would like to kindly remind you that due to safety we only allow soft props on the premises, no weapons or accessories that have the potential to harm are permitted. 

Due to the terrain of the courses the Middle-earth Halfling Marathon and Eleventy-first courses are not suitable to be completed with prams or baby carriers.This is to ensure the safety of all participants. 

Dogs are not permitted on the event course or at the Event Village unless they are service dogs.

Certified service dogs are welcome in the Event Village under the following conditions:

• The dog must be on a leash at all times and wear an identification tag with the owner's name, address and telephone number
• If asked, you must be able to provide proof that the dog is a certified service dog from an organisation recognised by the NZ Dog Control Act

*Please note that we can not ensure that this message gets to everybody who may come to spectate or enjoy the Event Village. We kindly ask that you please let any spectators or supporters who may be joining you on event day know this.