This course provides picturesque views of the lake and countryside, a couple of challenging climbs and a very long 12 km straight into the home shoot. It is long by at least half a kilometre.

Rotorua is a small town next to Lake Rotorua in north island of New Zealand. The marathon course is exact one loop around the lake. The route is mostly on major motor road, some distance from the lake without lake view. In some area, the route is a narrow path temporarily separated from a busy motor way. The event is well organized. The start and finish line is next to Rotorua Energy Events Centre in Rotorua Government Garden. The indoor facility provide a nice shelter to keep the runners warm before the race. There are about 10 aid stations along the marathon route with well stocked energy drink and water. The weather was perfect for 2019 event. Directed by friend, I was able take a bath in nature hot spring right after I have finished marathon. There are spectators in some road junctions. It is a small town, you would not expect a big crowd cheering along the way.

In 2010, there were a little over 1,500 finishers, and although the race occurred well into the New Zealand autumn, the weather was warm (if a bit rainy at times). Well organized race, run mainly on two-lane highways that circle Lake Rotorua. The haka at the starting line is spine-tingling. You really only smell the sulfur flats a bit at the start and finish. Great crowd support along almost the entire route, with well-stocked aid stations, and though it may be a bit light on the post-race refreshments, that's made up for by the fact that you can use the facilities (toilets and showers) in a real building (the Energy Center) before and after the race. As an American, I'm used to finisher's medals for every race, but they only give them out every five years in Rotorua. The Adidas tech-tee finisher's shirt was pretty nice, though. I'd definitely run it again, but wait for a year with a finisher's medal!