A group of runners poses for a photo at the finish line of a race event. Some participants are wearing race numbers and medals. A few other runners and spectators are seen in the background. The atmosphere is festive, with banners and flags around the area.
Christchurch/Pre Race
Christchurch

Pre Race

Sunday 30 March
Enter the race

All those useful things to know before your race

Whether you’re planning to walk, run or roll your way from the estuary to New Brighton Pier, here are some pre-race tips to get you race ready!

A group of ladies in sports clothing laughing together
*No bibs will be mailed. ALL bibs must be picked up from Bib Collection.
Bib Collection location

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, 181 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011.

Bib Collection opening hours
  • Thursday 29 February - 12.00pm to 7.00pm (corporate teams only)
  • Friday 1 March - 8.00am - 7.00pm (all participants)
  • Saturday 2 March - 8.00am - 4.00pm (all participants)
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Team Bibs

You can collect your team members’ bibs and timing tags. Simply download your Team List from your team's my.roundthebays.co.nz Event Dashboard and bring that with you. Remember to let your team members know that you are collecting their bibs for them!

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No bibs will be posted out. ALL bibs must be picked up from Bib Collection.

Getting your bib

Please remember to bring a copy of your registration confirmation QR code to Bib Collection. No race bibs will be posted out, however someone else can collect your bib on your behalf.

Bib Collection Location

Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham Street South, Christchurch Central

Bib Collection Opening Hours:

  • Friday 20 February- 8:00am - 7:00pm
  • Saturday 21 February - 8:00am - 4:00pm
Parking

There will be limited paid parking near to the Bib Collection venue .

Team Bibs

If you’re the team manager, you can pick up your team members’ bibs and timing tags from our Bib Collection venue if you have selected to do so when you created your team online.

Please bring a copy of your Team List with you and let your team members know that you are collecting bibs on their behalf.

All of your team members must sign up BEFORE 5.00PM on Friday 21 March if their bibs are to be included in the team pack that you are picking up. Otherwise, they will need to pick up their own bib from Bib Collection.

Temporary Road Closures and Parking Restrictions

There will be several temporary road closures and parking restrictions during the event. To avoid any delays, we highly recommend that you plan your travel and allow for extra time.

Road restrictions will start to be enforced from 4.00am on Sunday 30 March along the course. One way traffic will be maintained along the majority of the course, excluding Marine Parade from 7.00am.

Check back closer to the event for more details.

‍New Brighton

  • Marine Parade will be closed between Bowhill Road and Bridge Street to all traffic from 4.00am - 1.00pm. We encourage all residents to exit North New Brighton via Pages Road.
  • Bridge Street eastbound lane will be closed. The westbound lane will remain open for eastbound traffic only to exit New Brighton.
  • There will be a managed crossing at the Estuary Road and Bridge Street roundabout to support public buses and local residents exiting South New Brighton.

State Highway 74

  • The southbound lane on State Highway 74 (Dyers Road) will be closed between Humphreys Drive and Bridge Street. Diversions will be in place, but the northbound lane will remain open at all times.

Ferrymead

  • The southbound lane of Linwood Avenue/Humphreys Drive between State Highway 74 and Ferry Road will be closed. The northbound lane will remain open at all times. There will be a managed pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights at Tidal View.
  • Tidal View will be closed fully to all traffic and residents during road closures from 6.00am to 11.00am.
  • The cycle path on Humphreys Drive and Tidal View will be closed during 6.00am to 11.00am. Diversions will be in place.

Roads will be opened progressively as the roads clear of foot traffic and waste is removed. Safety is paramount.

Approximately from 10.30am, we will have two-way access from Tidal View to State Highway 74. We will endeavour to have two-way traffic on State Highway 74 from 12.00pm and all other affected roads open to two-way traffic from approximately 1.30pm.

* Subject to change

Bag drop/ bag collection

Pre-race: There will be a bag drop off at the Anytime Fitness car park on Ferry Road from 7.00am - 9.45am.

Post-race: There will be a collection point at the southern end of Thomson Park.

Please use your own drawstring bag for your gear (change of clothes, lightweight jacket, post race snacks etc). Please do not leave valuables in your bag. The drawstring bag should be no larger than a shoe bag – no backpacks or handbags please. 

Please tear off the gear tag from the bottom of your bib and attach it to your bag. It has the same number as your bib number.

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Create a team

Three cities. Three courses. Three ways to bring your team together.

Are you looking to create a team for Round the Bays 2026? Whether you’re a workplace looking to bond, a fitness club wanting to compete against each other or a group of friends keen to fundraise for a good cause, your team can now sign up to the Round the Bays Series.

Take part in 3 locations across the country - Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Start rallying the troops, create your team and join the 1600+ other teams taking part in NZ’s largest fun run series.

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Create a team

Hospitality Packages

Celebrate with your team when you cross the finish line with one of our four after-party Hospitality Packages. Packages range from the ‘DIY’ package to an all-inclusive Whetu package. Be the team hero and secure your after-party package today!

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Hospitality Packages

Free event buses

Take a free event bus! Due to road closures, there will be very limited parking at the start line and finish line.

Pre-race: We are running free event buses to the start line from Christchurch Bus Exchange on the corner of Lichfield and Colombo Street. All buses will be leaving from Bay 8 from 7.00am - 9.00am.

Post-race: We are running free buses from Bowhill Road/Thomson Park to the Christchurch Bus Exchange from 10.30am - 2.00pm.

Simply show your bib to the event staff before you board the bus and enjoy your free ride! 

Finish line photos

Want to see your smile and high-fives with your friends and fam as you cross the finish line?

This year we've teamed up with MarathonPhotos.Live to capture participants smiling and high-fiving as they cross the finish line, and photos will be available online within seconds of being taken!

Find out more
A smiling girl wearing a black cap and white shirt proudly shows off a medal labeled "Round the Bays" with the number "3004." She is sitting on the grass with a large tent and several people in the background.

Official merchandise

Make Round the Bays even more memorable with our 2025 merch.

Look the part
A group of people, including children and adults, are running in a race. They are wearing colorful outfits and tutus. The background shows a blue inflatable arch marking part of the race, and there are trees and spectators lining the route.

Race day information

Find out all you need to know on the day from the event schedule to wave start times, transport options, course maps and much more.

Race day
Type name of image here
Four individuals stand in a grassy area, celebrating after a race. Three people in white shirts and medals cheer with their arms raised, while one in a red shirt smiles and holds a camera. A child in front holds up a medal, and people and tents are visible in the background.A group of people, including adults and children, walk together on a road by the seaside. The children hold hands and smile, while the adults wave. The background features a view of the ocean and a distant mountain under a cloudy sky. Other people walk nearby.A runner crosses the finish line with arms outstretched in celebration. They are wearing a tank top, shorts, and running shoes. Spectators in the background cheer behind a blue barrier with the Under Armour logo. Trees and parked cars are visible behind the crowd.A smiling family of three, wearing matching white shirts, holds hands while walking on a street during a race event. Many other participants and spectators can be seen in the background under a sunny sky.A group of runners participates in a race. Three women in the foreground wear red tutus and black tops, smiling and holding hands as they run. People run on the road in the background amidst a sunny, scenic environment with greenery and a clear sky.Three runners crossing a blue inflatable arch finish line, holding hands up in celebration. They wear race numbers, athletic clothes, and running shoes. Other participants and spectators are visible in the background, with parts of the cityscape behind them.