Racing for Regeneration

Racing for Regeneration: Ridge Runner’s Kaitiaki Approach

When the Ridge Runner team first stumbled across the rugged beauty of White Star Station, they knew it was something special. Privately owned and tucked into the heart of the Coromandel ranges, it felt like the perfect place to create an event that celebrates both wild places and the people who love exploring them.

Held at the breathtaking White Star Station just outside Coromandel Town, Ridge Runner isn’t your average trail race. It’s a day where the views hit as hard as the hills and the sense of community carries runners across the finish line. With two course options (24km & 12km), it’s a chance for runners of all levels to take on rugged terrain, epic climbs, and some of the best scenery in the region. Once the finishers’ medals are handed out, the fun kicks on with gourmet burgers, optional camping, live music, a bonfire, and marshmallows to toast under the stars.

But what makes Ridge Runner truly special is what happens the next day. As part of GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL – Kaitiaki Ridge Runner commits to planting one native tree for every entrant, a tradition started in its very first year and proudly continuing in 2025. It’s a way to leave a positive footprint, long after the race dust has settled.

Last year, 200 trees were planted the day after the event, with event organisers returning the next morning to get hands in the soil and help plant them at White Star Station. These trees are part of a broader effort to restore native biodiversity and support predator control across the Hauraki Coromandel region.

For Ridge Runner, sustainability is built into the course. The event is part of a growing movement of tourism and event operators across Hauraki Coromandel who are doing more than just minimising impact, they're actively investing in the places that inspire them.

So when you line up at the start line, know that every step forward is part of something bigger. Ridge Runner is proof that adventure and regeneration can go hand in hand and that a race can grow more than just memories.