RiverSea Ultra begins at the water's edge of Rakahuri Ashley River beside the shingle pit on

Mt Thomas Road, approximately 15 minutes west of Rangiora and 8kms from the intersection of Oxford Rd and Mt Thomas Rd.​

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​​​​​​​​The start area and the first km of the course are

on private land and from there it is 11.5kms to the

first aid station at the Cones Road Picnic area

along a mixture of stop banks, 4wd tracks and

sweet single track and then a further 12.5kms to

Waikuku Beach where the second aid station is located.

You will run along the beach, which should be hard

packed by the time you get there, to the next aid station

at Kairaki Beach where you will have access to your drop bag if

you so choose to have one. This is the team changeover point for all teams.

 

Once you leave this aid station you will follow the stop bank along the

Kairaki Creek and then back down the other side where you will follow the Waimakariri until it

meets the Kaiapoi River.​​​​​​​​​  You will follow the river all the way into Kaiapoi, past the pub,

across the bridge and then back down the other side of the Kaiapoi River until it again meets the

Waimak and the trail meanders along the banks until Aid Station #4 at Kaiapoi Island. At this point

you have completed 48kms if you're running Solo and 12kms if you're the second team member.  You will then

run across the motorway clip-on and down the south bank of the Waimak River to Brooklands and follow

the trail across to Spencer Beach and Aid Station #5 which is the second team changeover for 3 person teams and the final drop bag zone.  A quick run through the forest will bring you out at the Broad Park/Waimari Beach Aid Station.

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Depending on what time you arrive here you will either take to the hard packed beach and run along the beach or if the tide is too far in you will run along the sand dunes from here. Timing will be confirmed closer to the time. You will run all the way down the beach or dunes until you reach the Southshore spit and then follow the tracks along the Estuary to the finish at South New Brighton Park.

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