Half Marathon
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HALF MARATHON
The big kahuna! The Half Marathon is here to offer you 21.1 kilometres of waterfront magic ... stretching from Mechanics Bay on the outskirts of the city to St Heliers, the last of the eastern beaches. With two offset laps, live music and huge inflatable arhes at every km marker, there is never a dull moment out there. Added to that, Auckland's stunning Waitemata Harbour is never more than a few metres away with views of the city, harbour bridge and Rangitoto Island throughout. Whether an elite runner or a weekend warrior, this event will bring your best out and you could join thousands of others to re-write their PB on Tamaki Drive!
Important! The Waterfront Half Marathon 21km course is AIMS certified. You can view the AIMS certificate here.
The Course
The half marathon course is two offset laps of stunning Tamaki Drive – all the way from Mechanics Bay to St Heliers. The first lap heads towards the city from Mission Bay, all the way over the causeway to Mechanics Bay. The first turn is outside the Port of Auckland entrance in Solent St, returning all the way to Mission Bay and 500m past the start line to the second turnaround. As you hit the start line to begin the second lap, you have 11km in the bag.
Lap two heads back towards the city and turns at Ngapipi Road, before proceeding all the way to the final turn at St Heliers and a short, fast blast to the finish line in Selwyn Reserve in the heart of Mission Bay.
Race Info at a Glance
The Basics |
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| Race | HALF MARATHON |
| Race Distance | 21.1km |
| Event Date | Sunday, April 6th, 2025 |
| Start Time | 7:00am (Competitive Walkers @ 7:03am) |
| Time Limit | 3.5 Hours |
| Awards Ceremony | 10:30am (approx 45 mins duration) |
| Age Limit | Participants must be 14 years or older on race day |
| Tickets & Fees | See the enter page |
| Number Collection | AHMS Series Pass entrants will receive all five race numbers by courier one week prior to the first event. All other entrants must collect their race number at the Event Venue from 2-4pm on Saturday (the day before the event) or from 6am on race morning. |
| Race Rules | See our general Competition Rules here. |
Event Base |
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| Location | Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay. Google locators: [start line pin] [finish line pin] |
| Access & Parking | See the dedicated Traffic & Transport page. |
| Refuelling Station | All race finishers will receive a can of SUPA sport drink and a banana (or snack bar) when they cross the line. Water will be available from the Refuelling station outside of the finish chute. |
| Toilets | Portaloos will be located at the finish area next to the public toilet block at the beach edge on the non-city side of the reserve. A second public toilet block is available inside the city end of the reserve, opposite Atkin Ave. |
On Course |
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| Course Map | See Course Maps & Descriptions |
| Directions | The entire course takes place on Tamaki Drive until the final turn into the finish line. However there are four turnaround points and it is important - especially for slower runners - to know when to turn at each turn point. > Turnaround 1 / 5km / Mechanics Bay > Turnaround 2 / 10.5km / Mission Bay (East) > Turnaround 3 / 14km / Ngapipi Rd > Turnaround 4 / 19.05km / Long Drive, St Heliers Important! Turnaround 4 is 50 metres past the 19km arch and the turnaround point for 10k, 5k and 2k participants. Look out for signage and listen for instructions to ensure you do not cut the course short here. |
| Pacers | Pacers will attempt to guide particpants to achieve specified finish times in 10 minute increments from 1hr 30m to 2hr 20m. You can find out more information on them here. |
| Pedestrians & Dogs | Please be respectful of the public and always look out for members of the public attempting to cross the road in front of runners. Unfortunately, non-runners often misjudge how quickly participants are moving. Friendly, well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome at the event venue however participants must not be accompanied by pets. |
| Toilets | Public Toilets are available on course at the following locations: > 2.2km / Okahu Bay > 7.8km / Okahu Bay > 10km / Mission Bay > 11km / Mission Bay > 13.2km / Okahu Bay > 14.8km / Okahu Bay > 17km / Mission Bay > 18.2km / Kohimarama > 19,.9km / Kohimarama |
| Aid Stations | Aid Stations are located at: > 2.2km / Okahu Bay > 5km / Mechanics Bay > 7.8km / Okahu Bay > 10km / Mission Bay > 11km / Mission Bay > 13.2km / Okahu Bay > 14.8km / Okahu Bay > 17km / Mission Bay > 18.2km / Kohimarama > 19,.9km / Kohimarama Stations will serve water and PURE Electrolyte Hydration. |
Awards & Results |
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| Results | 2025 results will be here and updated live throughout the event. Scan the QR code on your race number to be taken directly to your personal result page. |
| Scoring | In the spirit of athletic competition, awards will be given based on positions across the finish line (a.k.a. "gun time"). However, online results will show - and be ranked upon - the actual time taken between start and finish line (a.k.a. "net time"). |
| Merit Awards | Trophies will be awarded as follows: > Top 3 Male & Top 3 Female overall > Top 3 Male & Top 3 Female in the Competitive Walk category |
| Participation Awards | All finishers receive the 2025 Waterfront Half Marathon finisher medal. A finish at this event also qualifies as the fifth and final part qualification for the Auckland Half Marathon Series Grand Slam Medal. |
| Competitive Walkers | To be eligible to compete in the Competitive Walk category, you must: 1/ Be registered in the Competitive Walk category, 2/ Start on the Competitive Walk starting signal (normally 3 minutes after the main race start) 3/ Walk at all times whilst completing the race distance. Full details and information are available on our dedicated Walkers page. |
| Virtual Event | Couldn't make it to the event on race day? You can still record a finish time and earn yourself a finisher medal by completing the event virtually. Carefully read and adhere to the instructions on our dedicated Virtual Events page. Important! You cannot qualify for an AHMS Grand Slam medal with a virtual finish at this event. |
Safety |
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| On Course | You must always remain fully aware of your surroundings and look out for uneven surfaces, obstacles or vehicles. Even where the road is closed, we cannot guarantee it will be traffic-free. Only proceed where you are satisfied it is safe to do so. |
| Medics | Medical services will be provided by First Aid NZ. In the case of an emergency, marshals or race crew will contact the on-site medical team in the first instance and - should there be any delay - dial 111. Important! In certain circumstances, on-site medics may be able to respond to an emergency faster than 111. |
| Marshals | Please obey the marshals where they are acting for your safety. Marshals can make emergency calls on your behalf or contact event medical staff. |