Backyard Ultra New Zealand is a Last person standing ultra marathon in Taupo, New Zealand. Elevation: 30m D+. Difficulty: brutal (Challenge Rating 36/100). DNF rate: 97%. Time limit: 72h. Surface: trail. Established 2020.
Backyard Ultra New Zealand
Taupo, Waikato, New Zealand
"Last person standing on the shores of Lake Taupo."
A last-person-standing backyard ultra on NZ's largest lake.
The Course
A 6.706km loop along the shores of Lake Taupo in New Zealand's central North Island. The route traces lakeside trails and gravel paths with views of the volcanic plateau — Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu on the horizon. The terrain is gentle and the footing reliable, which is exactly the point: in backyard ultras, the course is never the enemy. Time is. Runners must complete each 6.706km loop within the hour, returning to the start to wait for the next bell. The last person still running wins.
flat
backyard
1
Runner Experience
Standard aid station support with food, drinks, and basic medical assistance at regular intervals.
Warm, inclusive finish line with a strong community feel. Runners celebrate together regardless of finish time.
Race Day Weather
13°C
6° – 18°
70%
25%
New Zealand autumn — mild, occasional rain.
Stats & Records
2020
1
46:00:00
Kyle Smith (2024)
38:00:00
Fiona Dowling (2023)
Entry
NZD 100
October
weeks
Lore & Trivia
Set on the shores of Lake Taupo — the caldera of a supervolcano that produced the largest eruption in the last 5,000 years — this backyard ultra brings Lazarus Lake's format to Aotearoa. New Zealand's ultra running community embraced the backyard concept immediately, drawn to the egalitarian nature of the format: no qualifying times, no cutoffs, just outlast everyone else. The event has quickly become NZ's premier last-person-standing event and a qualifying race for Big's Backyard Ultra.
- ▸ Lake Taupo is NZ's largest lake, formed by a supervolcanic eruption.
- ▸ Only one finisher — everyone else DNFs.
- ▸ NZ qualifying event for Big's Backyard Ultra.
Running beside Lake Taupo, hour after hour, with the volcanoes watching. It's meditative until it becomes brutal.
Notable Editions
Kyle Smith Sets NZ Standard
Kyle Smith lasted 46 hours at the Taupo backyard, setting the New Zealand record and qualifying for Big's Backyard Ultra in Tennessee.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Backyard Ultra New Zealand? +
Backyard Ultra New Zealand is a Last person standing ultra with 30m of elevation gain on trail terrain.
How hard is Backyard Ultra New Zealand? +
Backyard Ultra New Zealand is rated brutal with a Challenge Rating of 36/100 (Moderate). The DNF rate is 97%. Runners have 72 hours to finish.
What is the weather like at Backyard Ultra New Zealand? +
Average temperature is 13°C (range 6°C to 18°C) with 70% humidity and a 25% chance of rain. New Zealand autumn — mild, occasional rain.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Backyard Ultra New Zealand? +
Crew access is allowed. Pacers are not allowed.
What is the course record for Backyard Ultra New Zealand? +
The men's course record is 46:00:00 set by Kyle Smith in 2024. The women's course record is 38:00:00 set by Fiona Dowling in 2023.
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