Waipu Caves Farm Park
Run & Walk Series
A series of several run walk events at Waipu Caves Farm Park, a 320 acre private conservation & recreation park.
The terrain varies across, farm road, forest trails, grass paddocks, up hills, along valley flats and some across rivers and through muddy ponds.
Each event has a different mix of terrain to best suit the theme.
Co-ordinating events is nothing new to us, but this is the first season of doing the run walk and mud-run events. We will have some learning along the way and so we are starting with just 300 participants. The plan is that we will have these events each month from May to October each year. We already run Cave Concerts from October to April and will be doing music concerts in our outdoor theatre from January 2027. We also run school and youth camps.
School Cross Country - we will also be offering these run walk events to schools on the Friday before the weekend events. Please contact us about this.
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Colour & Costume Run Walk - Sunday 20th September
This Colour & Costume Run Walk is focused around our farm roads (mostly 4-6m wide gravel) which links 3 area together and there is optional forest trails (mostly dirt) off the roads for those who want to add distance and trail style terrain. The Colour element is that we have colour powder (coloured corn flour) for squirting at yourself, friends and others. You can buy this from us in squirt bottles. The Costume element is that you can come dressed up in a costume.
The distances range from 3 to 5km mostly on farm roads with you can do twice if you like or you can add in sections of forest trails to add more distance.
Arrive from 9am. There will be parking attendants to direct you where to park.
Registration and sign in from 9:15am. This is next to the start area.
Assemble at start point 10:00am for quick brief and start..
Finishing about 12:00-12.30pm.
Spot prizes at 12.30pm
Lunch, there will be some food trucks.
There is wash drums for cleaning yourselves at the finish area.
MORE INFO TO COME
Mudmania Mud-Run - Sunday 27th September
now with morning & afternoon start times
This is a short (about 1.5km) course purpose built for the Mudmania Mud-Run.
There are obstacles including mud ponds, water ponds, slippery slides & slopes, log obstacles, nets, commando crawls and more.
This course is designed for spectators and participants, so family and friends can watch closely. All spectators must buy a spectator ticket.
The course is lapped to suit your own challenge.
Children age 5-12 must be participating with a parent/adult.
Tickets - limited to 300 participants or spectators (per session).
Same ticket price no matter how many laps you do, or whichever start time you will choose.
Adults 18 years upwards: $25
Teenage 13 -17 years: $15
Children age 5 -12 years: $10
Spectators age over 5 years: $5
Food & Drinks.
There are food carts at the course.
MORNING SESSION
9:00am onwards, arrive and park. There will be parking attendants to direct you where to park. Make your way to the Mudmania course about 400m - 750m walk from parking areas.
9:30am onwards, at the course, registration and sign in. All participants to sign waiver and make way to starting point.
10:00am Quick Briefing & Start with youngest first (with their parent/adult participating with them).
11:30am Spot prizes.
AFTERNOON SESSION
12noon onwards, arrive and park. Make your way to the Mudmania course about 400m - 750m walk from parking areas. This time always for buying lunch from food trucks.
1:00pm onwards, at the course, registration and sign in. All participants to sign waiver and make way to starting point.
1:30pm Quick Briefing & Start with youngest first (with their parent/adult participating with them)..
3:00pm Spot prizes.
There is water drums for washing, and fire drums to warm up around.
This section edited by Ian Fox 11am Wednesday 19th August 2026.
June 28th Sunday - Fun Trail Run Walk
SOLD OUT
There are 3 length options.
10Km Run – Teenage and adult only.
7km Run or Walk – Suitable for 8 years and up.
4.5Km Run or Walk – Suitable for all ages, 5 years and up
This is on a trail of mixed terrain and surfaces including areas which are slippery, muddy, rocky, tree roots, grass, gravel, (stream crossing on 10km course).
IT IS NOT A PAVED COURSE.
You will need footwear with traction.
Watch the 3 videos below showing an animation of the courses.
Tickets - limited to 300 athletes.
Same price no matter which length you do.
Adults 20 years up: $20
Teenage 13 -19 years: $15
Children age 5 -12 years: $10
Spectators age over 5 years: $5
Itinerary
9:00am - 9:30am Arrive and park from 9am. There will be parking attendants to direct you where to park.
9:30am - 10:15am Registration and sign in. All participants to sign waiver and make way to starting point, assembling with runners nearest the start line, then fast walkers followed by slow walks (this is to reduce the need for passing on the tracks).
10:15am Event Briefing at the start point.
10:30am Start running or walking. Runners going first followed by fast walkers and then slower walkers.
12:00 noon - 12:30pm Faster runners back first with walkers taking longer. Have some lunch from the food stalls or at the office for ice-creams.
12:45pm Spot prizes.
1:30pm winding up, but you can stay longer if you wish, maybe have a cave tour (limited spots, book these online on our glowworm page).
Toilets - Near the start point, 3 flush toilets, 2 port-a-loos, long urinal. At office 2 flush toilets. At camp area C, 1 flush toilet, at Camp area D, 1 flush toilet.
Parking - There is limited parking spread around 5 different parking areas. There will be attendants.
First aid - People will be onsite to provide first aid for minor injuries. Saint Johns Ambulances are not onsite.
Risks of injury when trail running is real and inherent. You must take care and avoid hurting yourself as much as possible.
This is a
Past Event