Middle-earth Halfling Marathon Half Marathon
Hinuera, Matamata-Piako
20 Mar 2027
⚠ Start times change frequently. Always check with race organiser or their website for this year's confirmed start time before travelling.
Course map
Map based on 2026 route
⚠ This map is for indicative purposes only — routes can change, or be reversed, year to year. Check with the race organiser for this year's confirmed map.
Elevation profile
About this race
The Halfling Marathon is a 21.1 km off-road trail run on farmland near Hinuera, Matamata. The race starts at Buckland Landing and finishes across the road from The Shire's Rest. The route heads north through the Hobbiton Movie Set village, past Gandalf's Cutting and the Sackville Orchard, then loops through paddocks and farm tracks before returning to see the other half of the village. It also includes a loop from the Watering Hole to a high viewpoint, with views of the valley and the Kaimai Ranges. The surface is grass, dirt and clay farm tracks, with scattered cobblestones on the movie set. The course is hilly, with rolling terrain, several steep climbs and one final climb before the finish, and the last aid station is at the Green Dragon Inn.