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Parkrun

Ōtaki River parkrun

New Zealand

A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!

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Meeting point: -40.77102, 175.14812. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.

Coordinates -40.77102, 175.14812.

The course

Course description

Set on a beautifully scenic trail, the course starts under the new motorway bridge and follows the Ōtaki river towards the stunning Tararuas, completes a double anticlockwise loop around the beautiful Chrystalls lagoon, before heading back to the Ōtaki motorway bridge.

On the course

The course is 5k long. The course is at Ōtaki Riverbank, Kāpiti Coast. The course is run entirely on trail paths. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.

Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.

Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.

Facilities

There is good car parking and a café nearby the car park.
There are no toilets near the parkrun course, but there are public toilets near the Ōtaki shops, a 5 minute drive from the course.

More details

Public transport

There is no public transport option on a Saturday morning

On foot

Head south from the Ōtaki shops on the state highway, the course is located on the north east side of the Ōtaki river, and is about a 20 minute walk from New World to the start area.

By road
  • From Wellington, head north on the expressway, take the Otaki exit, as soon as you cross the Ōtaki river, turn left into the carpark, or turn right into the parking area.
  • From Levin, head through the Ōtaki township, as you approach the Ōtaki river bridge, turn left and park, or turn left and continue under the road you were just on to get to the other carpark.
  • From the carpark, take the trail under the main road and walk for 5 minutes to the start area.
Coffee

Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: Riverstone Café. Please come and join us!

We're friendly

Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at Riverstone Café - please come and join us!

Course safety

Ōtaki River parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
  • Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
  • We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
  • Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
  • Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
  • If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
  • You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
  • parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Ōtaki River parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.

parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.

For more information, please see our Support page.

Volunteering

All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email otakiriver@parkrun.com to help.

Safeguarding

parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.

To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.

Event stats

256
Events
2,167
Finishers
11,918
Finishes
244
Volunteers
1,631
Personal bests
142
Groups
00:36:16
Average finish time

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Park5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026