Middle-earth Halfling Marathon™
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Hobbiton™ Movie Set, Matamata
The Middle-earth Halfling Marathon™ on 28 March 2026 is an enchanting off-road running journey through the landscape of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.
This unique event allows runners and walkers of all levels to explore the rolling green hills and storybook landscapes of the Waikato countryside. The track will cover diverse terrain - from twists and turns over grassy knolls to spectacular vistas with 360 views. You’ll cross trickling streams into green pastures and through lush pockets of scattered tree-lines across the farmland, with a few surprises to be seen, and a couple of hills that will keep even the most seasoned runners honest.
Choose from the Half Marathon or the Eleventy-first 11.1K - Both distances journey through sites and scenes from the epic trilogies including some locations previously only ventured to by wizards and never-before accessed by the public. Participants will roam through the picturesque village of Hobbiton, through Gandalf’s Cutting, past the Sackville™ Orchard and up to Bag End before weaving down to Bagshot Row and past the sparkling lakefront. If time allows, stop for a brief refreshment at The Green Dragon™ Inn before the final leg of your adventure to the finish line across from The Shire’s Rest™.
Distances/Events
Eleventy-first 11.1K
Halfling Marathon 21.1K
