Rockys Backyard Ultra — The III Edition
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Rockys Backyard Ultra — The III Edition
McLaren Falls, Tauranga · 28 Nov 2026
One loop. Every hour. Until one remains.
How it Works
Each loop is 6.71km. Every hour, on the hour, you must complete a loop and return to basecamp. Make it back in time or you're out. The race ends when only one runner is left standing. Everyone else is a DNF. It's as much mental as physical.
The Course
Nestled in the Tauranga hinterland, McLaren Falls is the kind of place runners dream about. The course winds through native New Zealand bush, past waterfalls, along lake edges, and — if you make it far enough — glowworms lighting your way into the night. Each lap carries 140+ metres of elevation gain.
The Community
Everyone out there is doing the exact same thing you are. Same loop. Same clock. Same battle between the part of you that wants to stop and the part that won't let you.
At the same time, nobody's really racing each other. It's you against you. The version of you that quit too early vs Rockys V3...
People come back to Rockys year after year. Not because it gets easier. It doesn't. They come back because there's nothing else quite like it, the trails, the sun, the night, the community, and the chance to go further than you did before.
Self-Supported Event
Rockys is a self-supported event, so bring whatever you need to keep going. That said, you won't be alone, at basecamp between loops, you'll find water, electrolytes, snacks and real food, sponsor-supported freebies, and a warm gathering point between loops.
Between loops, you have whatever time remains in the hour. Some runners pace. Some eat. Some lie on the grass and stare at the sky and wonder what they're doing.
Every Entry Includes
Every registered entrant receives Rockys III Edition Neck Gaiter — a tough, trail-tested buff built for the damp of native bush, the cold of the night hours, and the general indignity of everything a long day on the trails throws at you. Wear it as a buff, a neck tube, a dust shield, a sweat rag, or a blindfold for the moments you'd rather not see the climb ahead.
Limited Entries | Tiered Pricing
Rockys Backyard Ultra III Edition has a capped field. This is not a mass participation event, it never will be. The earlier you register, the less you pay.
McLaren Falls, Tauranga · 28 Nov 2026
One loop. Every hour. Until one remains.
How it Works
Each loop is 6.71km. Every hour, on the hour, you must complete a loop and return to basecamp. Make it back in time or you're out. The race ends when only one runner is left standing. Everyone else is a DNF. It's as much mental as physical.
The Course
Nestled in the Tauranga hinterland, McLaren Falls is the kind of place runners dream about. The course winds through native New Zealand bush, past waterfalls, along lake edges, and — if you make it far enough — glowworms lighting your way into the night. Each lap carries 140+ metres of elevation gain.
The Community
Everyone out there is doing the exact same thing you are. Same loop. Same clock. Same battle between the part of you that wants to stop and the part that won't let you.
At the same time, nobody's really racing each other. It's you against you. The version of you that quit too early vs Rockys V3...
People come back to Rockys year after year. Not because it gets easier. It doesn't. They come back because there's nothing else quite like it, the trails, the sun, the night, the community, and the chance to go further than you did before.
Self-Supported Event
Rockys is a self-supported event, so bring whatever you need to keep going. That said, you won't be alone, at basecamp between loops, you'll find water, electrolytes, snacks and real food, sponsor-supported freebies, and a warm gathering point between loops.
Between loops, you have whatever time remains in the hour. Some runners pace. Some eat. Some lie on the grass and stare at the sky and wonder what they're doing.
Every Entry Includes
Every registered entrant receives Rockys III Edition Neck Gaiter — a tough, trail-tested buff built for the damp of native bush, the cold of the night hours, and the general indignity of everything a long day on the trails throws at you. Wear it as a buff, a neck tube, a dust shield, a sweat rag, or a blindfold for the moments you'd rather not see the climb ahead.
Limited Entries | Tiered Pricing
Rockys Backyard Ultra III Edition has a capped field. This is not a mass participation event, it never will be. The earlier you register, the less you pay.
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Where is it happening?
358 McLaren Falls Rd, Omanawa 3171, New Zealand, 358 McLaren Falls Rd, Omanawa 3171, New Zealand, Tauranga
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherRockys Backyard Ultra
