Shotover Moonlight
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon
The Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon is an off‑road trail race held on Ben Lomond Station near Queenstown, New Zealand. The 15th edition is scheduled for 20 February 2027 and the course crosses private high country terrain used for mustering and historic gold mining.
The route starts on the beach below the Pipeline Bridge in Skippers Canyon and finishes at Moke Lake. The course follows abandoned 1880s gold mining water races, sheep tracks on razorback ridges, beech forest, river valleys and 4WD farm tracks. Specific features include a ladder climb beside a waterfall, a tunnel on the valley floor and a scree slope descent.
The race involves substantial climbing and descending, with over 2500 m of elevation change and more than 60% single track terrain where footwork and balance are important. Trail surface breakdown provided by the organiser:
- 13 km water race single track (approx 30%)
- 13 km ridgeline and other single track (approx 30%)
- 8 km riverbed and river valley (approx 20%)
- 8 km farm 4WD track (approx 20%)
Cutoffs and course variations apply for safety. A short course option is available if runners miss a specific cut off at 24.5 km, which reduces distance by about 6 km and removes roughly 500 m of climbing. An overall course cutoff of 12 hours applies and competitors remaining on course at that time will be transported to the finish by 4WD.
The event is run by the Foster family from Ben Lomond Station. Accommodation packages including a helicopter flight to the start and pre‑race lodging at Moonlight Lodge or Ben Lomond Lodge are offered, with packaged options and pricing published by the organiser. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
