The inaugural Tarawera Trial Marathon and 50km race has drawn high praise, with nearly 200 people taking part.
Saturday's event had competitors from throughout the country and overseas run or walk on tracks past steaming geysers, through the Whakarewarewa forest and weaving through historic sites unique to Rotorua.
Organiser Paul Charteris said the event ran "brilliantly".
"It was just outstanding. It was a first-time event on a brand-new course. We had 195 who started and they were from up and down the country and quite a few from overseas," he said.
"We printed flags [of where they came from] and there were flags from all over the world."