The Race 2026
Race Options
The Coast to Coast has become almost
a
rite of passage for multisport athletes from around the world with over 20,000
people having completed the event in the 40+ years to date.
Held every February, the race starts on the West Coast, at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast with the finish at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
The race is one of the world's longest running multi-sports events and is older even than the Hawaiian Ironman. From similar roots, Robin Judkins founded the event in 1983 when just 25 hardy souls took on the 243km challenge over two days.
Over the years that grew to a peak of close to 1000 competitors and the event has grown with different sections to suit all those from the professional athletes to the weekend warriors.
The One Day race was introduced in 1989 and has the title of the World Multisport Championship with the top athletes covering the entire course in close to 11 hours. The other end of the field sees some competitors in the Two Day race taking closer to 24 hours.
Competitors leave on foot from the black sands and lush windswept landscapes on the West Coast, running 2.2km inland to their waiting bikes. They then follow the Taramakau River to the foothills of the Southern Alps where they switch their bikes for runners and the first true test of the course.
The 30.5km run is mainly off trail with the rocky riverbed often the only direct line up the valley. Competitors encounter multiple river crossings with frigid crystal clear water and an elevation gain of nearly 800m on their way to Goat Pass and the start of the descent.
With the very fastest athletes taking nearly 3 hours the run is as much a test of co-ordination and strength as it is outright speed.
A short 15km ride follows before the second jewel in the course. The mighty Waimakariri River. 70kms of braids and a stunning gorge, the river section is for many both the highlight and the crux of the race. The water flows swiftly in places and mixes long calm sections with rapids up to grade 2 in size.
It takes competitors from the heart of the Southern Alps out on to the Canterbury Plains where just one final 70km ride stands between competitors and the finish on the East Coast at the New Brighton Pier amongst a vibrant beachside festival.
While the One Day athletes complete the distance in a day, the majority of competitors take two days to cover the same course, with an overnight camp at the end of the Mountain run stage.
2026 Entry Process
Ballot Application:
- Applications for the Multisport Ballot will be open from 9:00 AM, Monday, 17 February, until 11:59 PM, Monday, 24 February 2025.
- One ballot application per person/team is allowed. You may apply for TWO event categories in a single application (e.g., Longest Day or Tandem Team).
- Applicants must have a current Grade 2 Kayaking Certificate or have booked a course prior to the 2026 event.
Ballot Results & Entry Confirmation:
- Successful applicants will be randomly selected (not first-come, first-served) at the sole discretion of the organiser.
- Successful ballot applicants will receive email notifications will begin on Friday, 7 March 2025, with instructions to complete the entry process.
- Athletes will have until 5:00 PM, Friday, 14 March 2025, to confirm their entry and pay.
- Unclaimed spots will be reallocated via the Wait List.
Wait List Process for Unsuccessful Applicants
- Unsuccessful Ballot applicants will be placed on a randomly generated Wait List, with details published online (date to be confirmed). An email will be sent with a link to the wait list when available.
- If you applied for two categories and secured entry to one, you won’t be added to the Wait List for the other.
Longest Day Elite Entries
- A limited number of spaces are reserved for the Elite category of the Longest Day. To apply, email info@coasttocoast.co.nz by 31 March 2025.
Mountain Run
The entry process for the Mountain Run will be confirmed later this year.
| Event Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Longest Day | $1,450 |
All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% fee applies to all credit card payments.
The Longest Day is the World Multisport Championship event.
There are Age Group and Elite categories for the Longest Day. If you want to be eligible for the prize money you MUST enter the Elite category.
The minimum age for Longest Day competitors is 18 years of age on race day.
The Longest Day is only open to individuals and as the name suggests sees competitors complete the full 243km course in one day.
There are relatively tight cut-offs and it is recommended competitors tackle the two day event prior to the Longest Day unless they have considerable endurance racing experience.
| Event Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| One Day 3 Person Team | $2,150 (per team) |
All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% fee applies to all credit card payments.
Since 1987 the One Day event has only been an option for individual athletes, now there is an option to enter as a 3 person team but spaces are limited.
One team member will tackle the Cycle stages (plus the first run off the start line at Kumara), another the Mountain Run and the third taking on the 70km kayak down the Waimak.
The minimum age for One Day team competitors is 18 years of age on race day.
The team event will start 30 minutes after the individuals and the same cut offs
that apply for the One Day individual event will be enforced for One Day teams.
| Event Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Two Day Individual | $1,450 |
| Two Day Individual U23 Elite | $1,450 |
| Two Day Individual School | $950 |
| Two Day 2 Person Relay Team | $2,070 (per team) |
| Two Day 3 Person Relay Team | $2,150 (per team) |
| Two Day 3 Person Relay Team School | $1,250 (per team) |
All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% fee applies to all credit card payments.
The Two Day event covers the same course as the One Day event but starts a day earlier (Friday) and competitors camp overnight at Klondyke Corner, after the Mountain Run stage before tackling the river and final ride on the Saturday.
The Two Day event is the event most people undertake as their Coast to Coast experience.
There is an amazing atmosphere at the overnight camp and the Two Day event is suitable for anyone with a good level of fitness and an adventurous streak.
The 2 Person team event includes a Corporate Challenge, with at least two members of the team must be full time employees of the company and you can have one ring in. The winning corporate team will be in line to win the coveted Corporate Team Challenge trophy that will look great at reception and of course bragging rights for twelve months!
U23 Elite
For athletes who are 23 or under as of 31 December in the year of the event and are keen to contest for prize money. If you want to be eligible for the prize money you MUST enter the U23 Elite category. Entry criteria for this event will be at the discretion of the Race Director.
The Schools
section is available to students enrolled at High School on race day. The Schools section is sanctioned by the NZSSSC.
The minimum age for Two Day individual competitors is 16, 2 Person team competitors is 15 & 3 Person team competitors is 14 years of age on race day.
The minimum age for Two Day Individual School
competitors is 16 & Two Day 3 Person is 14 years of age on race day.
| Event Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Two Day Tandem Team | $3,700 (per team)* |
| Two Day Tandem Team School | $2,250 (per team) |
All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% fee applies to all credit card payments.
The Two Day Tandem event is an event where teams of two complete the entire course over two days together. You must run and bike within 50m of each other at all times and teams paddle a supplied double kayak (Barracuda AR DUO) which is included in the entry fee. See the Two day Tandem handbook
for all the details.
A $150 damage deposit is required if organisers are supplying a kayak. Damage deposits, less any costs of repair, will be refunded within 10 days of the completion of the event. Refund will be processed back to the credit card used for payment, or to NZ based bank account which was used to make the payment.
If you have your own tandem kayak that you would like to use, please contact us. *Entry fee for supplying your own kayak is $3,200. If you don't have a Barracuda AR Duo you will be in an 'unranked' category.
The minimum age for Tandem competitors is 15 years of age on race day.
| Event Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Mountain Run | $550 |
All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% fee applies to all credit card payments.
The 2026 event will be held on Friday 13 February 2026.
The entry process for the Mountain Run will be confirmed later this year.
