The Kid Tongariro Info

The Kid Adventure Run Course Map

What is The Kid?

The Kid is a special Adventure Run just for young people aged 5-16, as part of The Goat Tongariro Adventure Run. The Kid is proudly presented by the Ohakune Events Charitable Trust and starts at 4:50pm on Saturday 20th January 2024 and follows a 3.2km trail in the Mangawhero Forest in Ohakune, on an off-road track that loops around the forest with surprises along the way, and finishes under a special archway. The Goat mascot will be there too!

What do I need to know?

It’s important that you have a little bit of experience running on bush trails, and you need to be confident that you will be able to run most of the trail. Runners aged 5 and 6 years must have a supporter running with them.

What can I win?

The 2024 Kid Tongariro Individual Entry Includes:

  • Kid Tongariro Finisher Medal or plant a tree in the Tongariro National Park. Also, option to do both i.e., receiving a medal and donating a tree ($10).
  • Complimentary edible finish line treats for every Kid finisher.

Use the menu items below to expand the information you will need for The Kid Tongariro event. 

The Event Course
The Kid Tongariro course is a 2 mile classic (approx 3.2km) for all those under 17.

The first 100m is designed to help spread each wave out before they turn into the Mangawhero Forest Walk Track (on the left hand side of Ohakune Mountain Road). Entrants run approx 1.6km to the end of that track, at which point they cross over Ohakune Mountain Road (with our traffic management team), and then head down the Mangawhero Forest Walk Track (on the opposite side of the road). At the bottom of the track it’s a 50m sprint to the finish line in front of the crowd gathering for the Goat Tongariro event prizegiving.

The Mangawhero Forest Walk loop is a friendly off road track that is a popular loop for individuals of all fitness levels. The course has just approx 110m of climbing and 110m of descent spread across the 3200m course, so again, it’s a pretty friendly course from an elevation profile point of view.

Start Times and Wave Starts
From the Ngāti Rangi’s Te Urunga property (just 200 metres up the road from the Powderhorn Chateau), there are 4 wave starts, with the first wave departing at 4.54pm & the final wave at 5.00pm.  The staggered start of entrants is necessary to preserve and protect the pristine environment of the Tongariro National Park and enhance the runner experience in the early stages of the event. Wave allocation is based purely on the entrant’s age on the day.

The 4x Wave Start Times are as follows:
4.50pm. Final Race Briefing (all entrants)
4.54pm. Start time for 13 – 16 year olds.
4.56pm. Start time for 10 – 12 year olds.
4.58pm. Start time for 7 – 9 year olds.
5.00pm. Start time for 5 – 6 year olds.

Finishers
The first finishers will be expected shortly after 5.05pm.

Event Cut-Off Times
Parents/caregivers must be confident of the entrant being physically fit enough to be able to complete the distance within an off-road terrain setting inside the event course cut-off times. While there will be event marshals and medics on the event course it is essential that all entrants have had prior experience running on tracks in the bush. 

The Kid Tongariro has not been designed as a walking event. Young entrants need to enter with the intention of running the majority of the 3.2km distance.

The event prizegiving begins at approx 5.40pm and that is the event cut-off time for The Kid Tongariro course.  For the 5/6 year old entrants, you’ll need to be confident to complete each km in approx 12 and a half minutes or less to get home prior to 5.40pm.

NOTE: Parents/caregivers cannot take pushchairs/buggies on the event course sorry.

2024 Event Pricing

>> TO ENTER CLICK HERE <<

Enter before 11:59pm on…
– 31st July 2023 $  24.00
– 30th September 2023 $  24.00
– 30th November 2023 $  24.00
– 9th January 2024 $  29.00
– 19th January 2024^ $  34.00

^Online entries close 3:30pm on Tuesday 16th January 2024 unless sold out prior. Any remaining entries after this time will be available at event registration on Friday 19th January 2024.

Please note: A 3.2% credit card surcharge will be added to all entry fee and merchandise transactions. This surcharge will be presented as a % being added to all transactions.

Ruapehu Locals Discount: If you live in the Ruapehu district you’re entitled to $5 off your Kid entry! You must have a valid Ruapehu District address to receive this special rate when booking.

 

Please be aware that The Kid Tongariro supporters who are supporting a 9 year old and under entrant DO NOT need to register. There is ONE support person permitted per 9-year-old and under entrant.

 

2024 Registration Timeline
Event registration for the Kid Tongariro event participants will take place at the following times:

1. Friday 19th January. 3.30pm – 9.00pm the night prior to the event at the Powderhorn Chateau, bottom of the Ohakune Mountain Road in Ohakune.

2. Saturday 20th January 4.15pm – 4.45pm. Inside the marquee on the Ngāti Rangi’s Te Urunga property (just 200 metres up the road from the Powderhorn Chateau)

(To assist us with our pre-event registration staffing requirements please be sure to select the box that most likely represents when you will register for your specific event on event weekend in your online registration)

2024 Registration Rules.
1. You cannot collect race numbers for others.

2. You cannot transfer your race number or wristband to others after picking it up.

Compulsory Gear

The following 3 items must be taken to event registration prior to being able to collect your race number/transponder.

Regardless of predicted weather conditions all of the following 3 items must be taken to event registration prior to being able to collect your race number/transponder.

1. Clean and dry footwear.
2. Whistle
3. Drink-carrying device (Note: Like The main Goat Tongariro event, there are no aid stations on the course.  At the time of year this event is scheduled to take place, and factoring in the type of terrain to be traversed, we would recommend carrying 500ml to 1 litre of water in a suitable pack)

 

You might also want to think about the following items:
– Off road running shoes (instead of road shoes)
– Thermal short sleeved or long sleeved top / beanie / gloves / weather barrier jacket
– A first aid kit
– Sunscreen
– Sports glasses
– Running cap
– Ankle length gaiters

Please direct your The Kid Tongariro queries to the following email addresses:
For entry queries please email entries@thegoat.co.nz
For general course and event queries please email info@thegoat.co.nz

Organisers will communicate (via email) with all The Kid Tongariro entrants in the weeks leading up to the event.

Thank you to our Sponsors!