The Northburn 100 Miler

Saturday 22nd 2025 March - 6am Start

100 miles is 161km folks, and this course will have you climbing and descending around 10,000m (32,808feet). That’s a good honest effort.

Visit the Route Profiles page to study and download a map of each loop. The 100mile (161km) course covers 3 maps, each loop starts and finishes in the same place – great to catch up with your supporters!

The first 50km loop take you from 200m above sea level (Start/finish) up near the most central point in New Zealand at around 1660m (2600m vertical climb). The second ‘loop’ is now a 60km loop (we do the dreaded water race sectionon on the second loop now) with a climb of over 4000m. The third and final loop is now 50ks (cos you will have already done the water race section) but still with steep climbs distributed through it (just under 4000m vertical climb). Total climb of about 10,000m.

There will be plenty of marshals along key areas of the course. The course will be well marked with directional arrows, plastic poles and reflective tape at night. There will be one aid station about half way round each loop with nutrition and electrolyte supplements. You will also be coming back through the start/finish area at the 50k and 100k marks so you will be able to pick up your personal refreshments/gear as required. There will be some extra fresh water re-fill positions (creeks) along the course so a water carrying capacity of about 2L per person should be adequate. There will be some compulsory re-fill points.

This is a dry, hard, rocky course mostly run over high country 4WD tracks but also including some short sections of fence lines and sheep tracks. The weather can be ‘changeable’ so your minimum gear must be carried at all times.

Should you complete the distance within 48hrs – you will become the proud owner of a legendary Northburn finisher’s buckle!

Minimum gear requirements are:

Small day backpack.
Rain jacket – it can be just a ‘shell’ but it must be seam-sealed waterproof.
Merino or thermal long sleeve top
Extra fleece/mid weight wool top or synthetic puffer.

Long thermal tights or trousers (standard compression leggings are not acceptable) Lightweight waterproof over trousers are also acceptable (Can be taken instead of thermal leggings)

Warm beanie or Thir Band! (Multifunctional head wear)
Polyprop / thermal/ warm gloves
Survival bag (don't piss around with a blanket - get a bag - standard outdoor equip these days)
Own snacks, gels, energy bars etc
Water bottles/bladders – enough to carry 2 litres of water at all times
Headlight for night-time with back up battery’s.
Reflective stripes or vest or back flashing light for night-time running

The above items must be in your pack or on your person AT ALL TIMES.

Cell phone (recommended but optional)
Gaiters (optional but recommended)
GPS/compass (optional)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Drop bag for ‘TW’ – (TW is the central check point near the top of the mountain that you pass by several times on various crossings of the high mountain routes).

We transport your extra drop bag to TW for you so fill it up with lots of heavy stuff – e.g.

Extra batteries/power pack for your headlamp and or phone
Heavier/warmer water proof jacket
Heavier/warmer water proof mitts (significantly warmer than gloves)
Water proof over-trousers
Extra set of thermals
Extra fleece/merino top.
Balaclava
Extra, specific food/electrolytes
(There will be soup, potatoes and Tailwind freely available at TW also).