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!

Well worth travelling to NZ for! The scenery is wonderful, and the course very well-laid out (though the hills were steeper than expected!). However, it was not much fun running so close to traffic at certain points, as the roads are not cut off in parts. The pasta party was very disappointing--there was no atmosphere and it was not worth the money.

On the whole, it was very well-organised with lots of water and energy drink stops. The finisher medal was great. I definitely recommend entering!

Well organized run with plenty of aid stations around the whole course. Plenty of company as well.

Best supported and only true marathon event in NZ. No half marathon bunnies so you get all shapes and sizes with one common goal. Longest cut off of all NZ marathons. Well supported.

The route goes out along a major highway for about 10 KMs and then follows a scenic 15 KM alongside the lake with some hills for interest. The last 10-15 KM are back along a major road past the airport, with some long boring straights.

Spectator support was mainly limited to the competitor's seconds.

This is New Zealand's largest marathon, but there are much better ones to run.

Save your strength for the Hawkes Bay or Buller.

An unique 26.2 miles of beautiful scenic course around a volanic lake, it is a bit hilly but never boring. The weather was perfect for running for the 2005 raceday. The NZ folks were extremely friendly and really appreciative of the runners and organzied great cheering stations along the way. I highly recommend this as a destination marathon to New Zealand, a really beautiful country.

Do be aware that runners do not have the right of way in New Zealand, we were warned to watch for traffic. A little disappointed that there was no finisher's medal and no technical shirt for small women's sizes.

A well organized run with lots of company on the way.

What a pleasant marathon this was! It started at the Mayor?s reception for the foreign runners a night before the race. The Maori welcoming ceremony was absolutely magnificent! Just like the rest of the New Zealanders, the organizers were extremely friendly and helpful. The beautiful course runs around Lake Rotorua, past the villages and rolling hills with the autumn trees turning red and yellow, and singing birds, and occasionally even the rainforests. Though most of the time you run on the road that you share with the cars, there are so few of them that the exhaust is never a problem and the air is excellent. The last few kilometers are a bit less exciting (or did I just hit the Wall?), but very enthusiastic spectators make it much easier. Regardless of your finishing time, there is a high chance that you will end up with some award anyway, as the organizers and businesses in Rotorua donate lots of nice prizes to be drawn in the sweepstakes.
This is a great marathon for slower runners and walkers, as there are many of them and the time limit is very generous.
The Rotorua Marathon is definitely one more excellent reason to travel to the other side of the world to see beautiful New Zealand! Go for it!

A great venue, excellent course, speculator. I have run this mararthon 6 times, would have been 7 but rained off in 1999. Have just run the 2000 race 29th April. Well worth a trip to NZ to compete.