Tarawera Trail ranked one of the best

Start of this year's Tarawera ultra marathon at the Redwoods. PHOTO/FILE

A popular Rotorua trail running event has been listed as one of the best in the world.

The Tarawera Ultra Marathon and Tarawera Trail Marathon were named among the world's top six trail races by British publisher The Guardian.

The article states the Tarawera events are "a spectacular run from the thermal geysers of Rotorua, through a sub-tropical forest, to the shores of Lake Tarawera.

"Once over the finish line, runners can soak in the natural hot water baths and enjoy a cream tea before taking a scenic boat ride back to the start."

Race organiser Paul Charteris said he was thrilled with the ranking.

"It's a great honour to be recognised by one of the major newspapers in the world. Living here in Rotorua, we may look at those other five events in the Grand Canyon or the mountains of Patagonia and ask 'how can we be compared to them?'

"But we can. What sets the Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50k apart is the incredible variety of scenery along the way, the start in the middle of a geyser field, the amazing forests you run through, the lakes, and the finish at a natural hot pool. And the culture and the people of Te Arawa are represented from the start to the finish of this event."

Destination Rotorua general manager Oscar Nathan said this sort of recognition was great for Rotorua and was testament to the hard work put in by Mr Charteris and other event organisers.

He said the races attracted hundreds of participants from around the world and across New Zealand, and participants were always vocal about how great the experience was.

"Rotorua is set in a unique natural environment dominated by lakes and forest, and events like these utilise what we have on offer."

The other five trail runs in The Guardian's top six in the world are:
- Lake Baikal ice marathon, Russia
- Patagonia international marathon, Chile
- Helvellyn trail race challenge, UK
- Otter African trail run, South Africa
- Grand Canyon half marathon, US