An overhead view of the starting line of a race. Numerous runners in colorful athletic gear gather beneath a large inflatable arch that reads "START" in bold black letters against a blue background. The street is filled with waiting participants ready to begin.
Wellington

Race Day

Sunday 15 February

All you need to know for race day

Whilst we enjoy getting amongst the fun, we also pride ourselves on our operations and your health and safety, so please familiarise yourself with the important info below so you can get the best out of your day.

On your marks, get ready ...

Top Tips for Race Day

• Pin your bib to the front of your shirt with nothing covering it so that we can track your race time
• Complete your emergency contact details on the back of your bib
• Allow plenty of time to get to the start line by 9.00am and to join your start wave group (Runners, • • • •Walkers, Joggers, Competitive and Non-Competitive Mobility)
• Arrange a meeting place in the finish line area (away from the finish chute)
• Write your mobile number on your kids’ arms in case you separate on the course

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)
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!

Event schedule

6:30AM

21km Half Marathon bag drop and Info tent open for last minute bib pick ups.

7:30am - 8:00AM

7.30am - 8.4km bag drop opens

7.45am - 21km Half Marathon starts

8.00am - entertainment and formalities for 8.4km start

8:30AM - 9:00AM

Group warm up at the start area.

9:15AM

The event gets started.

Please arrive at the start line by 9.00am at the latest. Approx start wave times:*

  • 9:15am - Competitive Mobility, Elite Runners & Runners 
  • 9:30am - Joggers 
  • 9:45am - Walkers & Non-Competitive Mobility
10:00AM - 12:30PM

After-party kicks off at the finish line!

Live music, food vendors and giveaways. Soak up the good vibes and celebrate completing #RTB25

10:30AM

First free event shuttles leave the finish line.

Running continuously until 2:15pm.

1:00pm

The celebrations end!

We look forward to seeing you all at the start line again next year!

Two runners, a man, and woman, wearing athletic gear and sunglasses, smile and raise their arms in celebration as they near the finish line of a race. Other participants and spectators are visible in the background, creating a lively atmosphere.

Bag drop

We'll have a bag drop zone on Cable Street, alongside Waitangi Park and at the finish line at Kilbirnie 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.

Transport

Free publish transport

Thanks to our mates at Auckland Transport, all participants receive free travel on scheduled bus and train services to and from the event. Simply show your race bib when you board! If you travel by train show your bib or entry confirmation to the staff when you exit at Britomart Station.

Conditions apply. Offer excludes ferry services and Howick & Eastern buses. Applies for travel on Sunday 8 March 2026 from start of timetabled services until 5:00pm.

Pre-event shuttles

From St Heliers - details coming soon ....

From Madills Farm - details coming soon ...

Post-event shuttles

From St Heliers - details coming soon ....

From Madills Farm - details coming soon ...

Parking & free event shuttles

Parking options at the start line for participants include*:
Wakefield carpark, Wilson Parking 2 Chaffers Street, Taranaki Street parking or Care Park 24 Tory Street.

Please note that the Harbourside Sunday Market will be on Barnett Street carpark.

Free post event shuttles
We’ll be running free post event shuttles from the finish line at Kilbirnie Park until 2:00pm.
Buses will go to:
- Stop 5000 – Courtenay Place Stop A (outside the Paramount Theatre)
- Wellington Station.

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

Please note there will be wait times at peak periods for the shuttles back, so don’t rush. Sit back, enjoy a drink, some food and soak up the entertainment, you will have earned it!

A pair of teenage girls piggy back one another while handing out water to runners who have just finished a race

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.

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 - 2.30pm. 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 4.00am to 11.30am.

The cycle path on Humphreys Drive and Tidal View will be closed during 6.00am to 11.30am. 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. With two-way traffic on State Highway 74 from 11.00am and all other affected roads open to two-way traffic from approximately 1.30pm.

* Subject to change

The Course and event maps

Official merchandise

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

Look the part
A large group of runners participating in a marathon along a road near a coastal area. Colorful vertical sculpture visible on the left side. Background includes residential houses on hills and cloudy sky. Trees and grassy areas line both sides of the road.

Frequently asked questions

Still got a few questions? Head to our FAQs page to find the answer.

Event faqs
Type name of image here
A group of runners in athletic gear competes in a marathon on a sunny day. They are running on a paved road flanked by green trees, with some road signs and traffic lights visible in the background. The runners are focused and appear to be mid-race.Two teenage boys  smile at the camera dressed in fancy dress as bananas A group of six enthusiastic individuals dressed in matching black shirts and pink tutus pose together on a road during a race. They are smiling, with some making playful gestures, while other participants can be seen running in the background.Three participants in yellow shirts celebrate with high-fives as they cross the finish line of a race. The finish line banner is blue and white. Spectators line both sides of the dirt track, cheering the runners. The sky is partly cloudy.A group of people is running on a road during a race, featuring a man and two children in the forefront, all with race bibs. The children are smiling and high-fiving, with other runners visible in the background. The atmosphere appears energetic and cheerful.Four runners, wearing white tank tops and black shorts, jog on a paved road during a race. They are jubilant, raising their arms in victory and smiling. Other runners and a race official are visible in the background. The landscape includes greenery and a cloudy sky.