Ironman 70.3 New Zealand 2026

Ready to dive into the legend of the Pacific? The Ironman 70.3 New Zealand takes place in Taupō, on the North Island, in a setting that seems straight out of a fantasy film 🎬. This event is an institution: Taupō hosts the second oldest Ironman in the world, and its 70.3 version gathers nearly 2,000 excited athletes each year. The format is immutable: 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling, and 21.1 km of running to finish the loop. We're talking about a meticulously organized event supported by more than 2,000 local volunteers who treat every participant like a family member 🤝.

The course pays homage to the geothermal power of the region. You'll swim in the Lake Taupō, which is nothing less than the caldera of a super-volcano whose eruption 27,000 years ago was so massive it covered the island in a blanket of ash. Today, the water is so pure you could almost drink it while swimming! For cycling, prepare for the famous New Zealand "chip-seal", a granular surface that requires power and focus. The scenery? Rolling green hills as far as the eye can see that will remind moviegoers of the Shire hills in The Lord of the Rings, many scenes of which were filmed just a stone's throw from here.

The atmosphere in Taupō is indescribable. The entire town stops breathing to resonate with the rhythm of the triathlon. The start is often in a mystical mist over the lake before the sun comes to warm the country roads. The final red carpet passage on Tongariro Street is one of the loudest and warmest on the world circuit 📣.

If you still have some energy left, a visit to the Huka Falls, where the water flow can fill an Olympic swimming pool in 11 seconds, will remind you of nature's power 🌊.