Got a burning question about Southern Cross Round the Bays? These FAQs may be able to help you out! If you’re left with an unanswered question, please email us at roundthebays@stuff.co.nz
Round the Bays Auckland will be held on Sunday 2 March.
The event starts at 9:15am with the first wave of Elite, Competitive Mobility and Runners Start Groups. The Joggers wave starts at 9:30am and the Walkers and Non-Competitive Mobility wave starts at 9:45am.
Our course is an 8.4km flat course from Auckland’s CBD to St Heliers. The start is located on Quay Street (by Spark Arena) and continues along picturesque Tamaki Drive to a spectacular finish at Vellenoweth Green in St Heliers Bay.
Rallying the troops and creating a team is super easy! Just head to the race platform here and click on the blue CREATE A TEAM button.
Once you have created your team and received your confirmation email, please ask your team members to follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Team Join Link.
Step 2: Complete the entry form in full and include the team Promo Code on either the first page or last page of the entry form.
Please ensure that your Team Join Link and Promo Code is only shared with your team members as invoices will be issued based on your total number of Promo Codes redeemed.
If you will be taking part as well, you will also need to complete the entry form and include the Promo Code.
We have Start Groups for all ages and fitness stages. Please select the Start Group to suit your ability: Elite Runner (sub 36 mins), Competitive Mobility (sub 25 mins), Runner (36-50 mins), Jogger (50-80 mins), Walker and Non-Competitive Mobility (80+ mins). Prams/pushchairs/buggies must be entered into the Walker Start Group.
Anyone! At Southern Cross Round the Bays, we welcome everyone, any ability, any age, any fitness level. When entering please assign yourself to the appropriate Start Group based on your running, walking or rolling speed. From a health and safety perspective on the course, we ask those with kids strollers and non-competitive mobility participants to please start at the back of the Walkers Start Group. We don’t want any collisions on the course!
Easy as! Just click on any of the Enter Now buttons and it'll take you to the entry form. Please complete your entry form in full, agree to the event waiver and make payment via credit card.
Don't stress! Come see our friendly staff at the Information Tent. If you get home and realise you have lost something, then please email the following details to roundthebays@stuff.co.nz and we can add them to our system so that we can contact you if it’s found: first name, last name, email, phone number, bib number, lost item.
Pre-race: There will be a gear drop off truck at the start line located on the corner of Customs Street and Tangihua Street. This will open from 7:30am - 9:15am on the day of the event. If you are catching a free event shuttle from St Heliers to the start line, you can also drop your bag at Vellenoweth Green before you board the bus.
Post race: There will be a gear pick up point at the finish line on The Parade side of Vellenoweth Green in St Heliers. This will close at midday.
Please use your own drawstring bag for your gear (change of clothes, lightweight jacket, post race snacks etc). Please do not leave valuables in your bag. The drawstring bag should be no larger than a shoe bag – no backpacks or handbags please.
If your child has become lost, please head to the Information Tent at the start line, finish line or hospitality zone and report their details to the event organisers. They will then take immediate action to ascertain your child’s whereabouts.
To reduce congestion, and for your own convenience, we strongly encourage using our free public transport option to get to the start line, or our free event shuttles which run pre and post event from Vellenoweth Green and Madills Farm to Britomart. Just show your bib for free travel on all AT buses up until 5:00pm.
Parking in the CBD? There are several car parks close to the start line available including the Britomart, Downtown and Arena car parks. Click here for more information.
There is no designated event car parking in and around the finish line. There will also be parking restrictions and road closures in place in and around St Heliers, as well as along the route. You may find limited parking on the side streets off St Heliers Bay Road, but spots fill up fast and cannot be guaranteed.
Simple answer is yes – you’ll need to be at the following points at these times: 5km to go mark at 11:00am, 3km to go mark at 11:30am, and 1km to go mark at 12:00pm. This is to ensure all roads can be fully operational for the public within the required times. Please note the start time is subject to change and all participants must have crossed the start line prior to 10:15am, and completed the course at the finish by 12:15pm, as required by the council. If necessary on the day, these times may change and instructions from marshalling staff will be final. If a participant is outside of the course cut off times the participant will be disqualified and must take responsibility for their actions and make their own arrangements for any support after this time. Stuff will not be obliged to refund any portion of the entry fee in such circumstances.
Celebrate, you did it! But more seriously, once you have crossed the finish line, please keep moving towards the drink stations and move as far as you can into the recovery area before stopping.
Please don’t wait for friends and family just past the finish line as this creates congestion for participants finishing after you. We suggest arranging to meet your friends and family at a designated meeting place.
Check out the finish map for a place. We’ll have plenty of great music, activations and food vendors to delight your taste buds!
We are prepared for accidents. Hato Hone St John is located at the start area, along the course near the water stations and at the finish area.
Should you injure yourself or witness an incident whilst participating in the event, please report this as soon as possible to event staff or to the team at the information tent at the finish line.
Round the Bays is the ultimate team building event and our Hospitality Packages offer the perfect way for your team to come together and celebrate your achievements.
Book a Package, share food and sweaty high-fives! Whether you’re a DIY-er or prefer a fully kitted hospo site, we’ve got you covered with our four Hospitality Package options. Our Rā, Maunga and Moana Packages include a covered marquee site, whilst our Whenua Package includes an open grass site.
Be sure to book enough hospo sites to accommodate your team. We don’t want anyone to miss out! Each site can fit around 30 team members, or less if you have additional furniture/equipment on your site.
Adults, please be responsible and supervise children at all times. If they manage to slip through the cracks, please head to the Information Tent at the start line, finish line area or speak to the nearest marshal.
We are prepared for accidents. Hato Hone St John is located at the start area, along the course near the water stations and at the finish area.
There are plenty of water stations at the start area, along the course and at the finish line. Please use the recycling bins provided.
For all those emergency stops, portable toilets are located close to the start and finish areas and at locations along the course. This includes accessible toilets too.
Look after yourself and others. Keep an eye out for uneven surfaces including cracks, potholes and bumps and if you come across an injured person, stop and help them, then inform a marshal at the next checkpoint.
Participants must obey the instructions of police, event staff and course marshals. Although all roads on the course are closed to traffic, please watch for the presence of vehicles along the route, crossing your path, from behind and in front, at all times.
There aren’t too many ‘No’s’ so we appreciate your cooperation in following the few below:
Bicycles, scooters, hand cycles, skates, skateboards, roller blades or motorised vehicles are not permitted on the course.
No pets. No poles, flags or sharp objects. No drones.
Got a question about your entry or hospo package? Not sure what to do on race day or where to collect your bib? Find out more …
Check out the course map so you're fully prepared on the day.
All you need to know about getting to the event, bib collection and more.
Start times, transport, post event details and more.
Have a burning question? Find out more.
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