Hawke's Bay International Marathon entries already going live

Aidon McKayn, 12, Waihi Beach, winner Kids' Run - Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon, and other events, finishing at Sileni Estate Winery, Bridge Pa, Hastings. 13 May 2017 Hawke's Bay

Less than two months after 4300 people flocked to the "best yet" Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon, organisers have revealed a stunning new setting for next year's finish line.

With entries for the annual event now open and memories of a record turn out in May still fresh in people's minds, race director Adam McDonald said next year's event would have a new-look that would takes in more coastal running, much of it on Hawke's Bay Cycle Trails.

"We are always looking for ways to improve, to innovate and engage with our participants, and we know they are going to love this course and other changes that we will announce in the coming weeks.

"There has been so much work put into this, with assistance from all of the local councils, Tourism Hawke's Bay and our stakeholders, but in particular we are excited to welcome new partner Elephant Hill Wine Estate, who are going to help us go to another level in hosting our finish line wine and food festival."

Key changes to the course include a new start at Ahuriri, West Quay in Napier, taking runners around Bluff Hill and along Marine Parade before heading inland towards Meeanee.

The course then teases runners with a loop back to the coast, turning to follow the Ngaruroro River back inland before returning to the coast through Whakatu and Clive before hugging the coastline to lap up incredible views of Tukituki River and Cape Kidnappers in the final kilometres before the finish at Elephant Hill.

McDonald said initial feedback to the new course has been tremendous.

"We released snippets of the course on social media over the past few days and the response has been wonderful and almost universally positive. Previous runners are excited about the change-up, and potential new participants love the enhanced coastal aspect of the course."

Another key change would be a stunning finish line at Elephant Hill Estate and Winery.

Elephant Hill Estate and Winery chief executive, and former marathon runner, Andreas Weiss said he was excited about the winery's involvement and the chance to showcase the broader region.

"The major plan is we want to give the runners a fantastic goal to achieve, which means our driveway entrance with all the palm trees will give them something to really look forward to, especially with the iconic view to the coast and Cape Kidnappers."

Final details of what would be in store for runners and spectators were still being finalised but the winery was working closely with organisers.

"We just have to make sure the iconic landscape we offer will provide what we want it to, which is to provide a splendid experience to anyone that comes down to Hawke's Bay. It's a big, big promotion for the whole of Hawke's Bay."

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas pointed out that this year's event had coincided with a rise in both overall visitor spend and a nearly five per cent rise in domestic guest nights.

"That's the equivalent of 3000 extra nights spent in Hake's Bay in May. Hotels saw the bulk of that growth, guest nights there were up 16 percent."

The new route would also showcase more of the region.

"It's pretty exciting because only about 25 per cent of people have done the marathon before, so 75 per cent of people are new to it.

"This is quite a nice way to share Hawke's Bay with a bunch of new people and we think with this course we will see an increase because people will be interested in doing it again."