Waitomo Trail Run wants to get Kiwi families running together

Runners and walkers will be able to go deep underground through some of the hidden gems of Waitomo. Photo / Kurt Matthews

A run over and under the ground through the hidden gems of Waitomo promises to be the perfect end to Kiwi kids' school holidays next month.

The Waitomo Trail Run, on April 28, is the perfect chance to sneak in some extra special bonding time with family and friends, running through one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, through areas most people don't even know exist.

The event has options for several distances, with 22km and 35km versions for those looking for a more challenging adventure, and 6km and 11km options for those who want to have a fun time making (slightly less adventurous) memories with family and friends.

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Proud moment for those two 💚 We loved seeing so many happy families at the Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre in 2016. Who is running/walking the #waitomotrailrun with their family this year? #waitomo #waitomocaves #legendaryblackwaterraftingco #icebugnz #happyfinisher #finishersmedal #adventure #familyfun #waikatonz #explorenz #compressportnz #runmoretrails

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Event director Paul Charteris insists that the Waitomo Trail Run is "not a race".

"In fact, it's as far from a race as it can be," he says. "It is a true adventure through some of the most extraordinary landscapes on the planet."

Most of the land the race takes place on is private land that is not open to the public any other time of the year.

It includes surreal karst-studded landscapes, caves, native bush, working farms, tunnels, canyons and even glowworms, making it a unique opportunity to explore the area beyond the usual touristic hotspots and discover some some hidden treasures of New Zealand.

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"This is a kids' paradise. The 6k run/walk starts deep underground at the entranceway to the Ruakuri Cave and tunnels to explore through - they're small enough that the grownups need to duck down or crawl," Charteris said.

"The 11k is up and over and around karst land formations that make this a paradise for kids to explore. Quite often the kids run off ahead of their parents and our finish-line areas become defacto child-minding zones."

A few words of warning for those thinking this compares to a city jog, though. "We have ropes to help you step up onto the larger rocks and optional hobbit holes to squeeze yourself though," the event director said.

"There's a ton of laughter, good dirty fun and maybe even a stranger pushing your butt to help you up and over the tricky bits."

Oh, and medals. There's a medal for every finisher, regardless of age.