Kiwiman Xtreme Triathlon

New Plymouth, New Zealand · April · Independent (Taranaki Community Stadium Trust)

Why people love it

Unique 194 km (121 mi) lap of Taranaki Maunga
Run finishes at the mountain base, Egmont Camphouse (about 930 m (3,050 ft) / 3,050 ft)
Support crew follows the athlete; team, double and half options
Lake swim with organiser-stated 15-18 °C (59-64 °F) water

Almost no independent reviews or results online
Distances differ between listings (swim 3.6 or 3.8 km (2.4 mi); run 42 or 46 km (28.6 mi))
Elevation and cutoffs not published on pages we found
4 am start in the dark

2.7Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Only organiser testimonials, from an Ultraman champion and Ironman finishers, praise the scenery, community and crew model; no independent reports exist. · Low confidence
OrganizationAdequate3.2
Run for many editions with GPX files and a clear half, team and double structure; no independent feedback is available. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyExperts only1.2
An extreme distance with a 4 am start and mandatory crew; half and team options exist for newcomers. · Medium confidence

PR potentialVery slow1.2
A 194 km (121 mi) bike plus a run of about 46 km (29 mi) finishing uphill; elevation is unpublished but clearly slow. · Low confidence
Course easeVery tough1.7
One testimonial calls it brutal: a 3.6 km (2.2 mi) swim, 194 km (121 mi) circuit, then a 46 km (29 mi) run uphill. · Low confidence

3.3Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.9
The organiser states 15-18 °C (59-64 °F) lake water, well below the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) wetsuit limit. · Medium confidence
Water temperatureAcceptable2.8
15-18 °C (59-64 °F) per the organiser: cool, and unverified for this brackish coastal lake. · Medium confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.2
A small sheltered lake near the coast with no chop reports, though Taranaki is windy. · Low confidence
Swim easeModerate3.3
A 3.6-3.8 km (2.2-2.4 mi) mass start at 4 am in the dark; the lake has no current, but the distance and darkness add difficulty. · Low confidence
Swim experienceFine3.0
No reviews; a dark start in a suburban coastal lake. · Low confidence

2.6Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed2.9
No reports; New Zealand rural roads are often coarse chipseal. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly open1.8
Open public roads with follow-vehicle crews; no closure information is published. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful4.4
A complete circuit of Taranaki Maunga (2,518 m (8,260 ft) / 8,261 ft), praised in testimonials. · Low confidence
WindSome wind2.6
The Taranaki coast and mountain-side roads are well known for wind, though there are no race reports. · Low confidence

Bike speedSlow1.9
A 194 km (121 mi) circuit around Taranaki Maunga with two named climbs; gain is unpublished, but it is likely slow. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessHilly2.4
Elevation is not published; a mountain circuit with two named climbs, likely 2,000-2,500 m (6,600-8,200 ft). · Low confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
No data; expect mountain-side climbs and descents on public roads. · Low confidence

2.6Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportSparse1.8
A remote circuit where you see only your crew until the finish. · Low confidence
Aid stationsThin2.3
Support comes from your own crew; no aid station details are published. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
The run finishes at the foot of Taranaki Maunga. · Low confidence
Run conditionsHard2.0
A long run after 194 km (121 mi) of riding, with a sustained climb to the mountain base. · Low confidence

Run flatnessHilly2.2
A 46 km (29 mi) run climbing from near sea level to Egmont Camphouse at about 930 m (3,050 ft). · Low confidence

3.5Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Late March or early April brings typical days of 14-20 °C (57-68 °F), cooler at the 4 am start and at the mountain base. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Taranaki mountain weather is changeable, but there are no race-day reports. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely4.3
Mountain and coastline. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Crews follow athletes, so spectators are mainly at the start and finish. · Low confidence

Low altitudeModerate3.2
Swim and most of the bike are near sea level; the run finishes at about 930 m (3,050 ft). · Low confidence

3.1Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityGood4.3
New Plymouth is a regional city with ample lodging. · Low confidence
Hotel valueNormal3.3
No data; expect regional New Zealand pricing. · Low confidence
WalkabilityMostly driving2.3
The swim is at Lake Rotomanu in New Plymouth, but the finish at Egmont Camphouse is about 30 km (19 mi) away. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection2.9
New Plymouth has domestic connections only; international arrivals connect via Auckland or Wellington. · Low confidence
LogisticsFiddly1.8
A point-to-point with a follow crew and a finish in a different location. · Low confidence
Town and foodGood3.9
New Plymouth has strong cafes and dining, though not race-specific. · Low confidence

Location: New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Typical month: April
Latest or next date: 3 April 2027
Organiser: Independent (Taranaki Community Stadium Trust)
Distances: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Swim venue: Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth (lake)
Water temperature: 15–18 °C (59–64 °F)
Wetsuit: Legal
Swim start: mass (4:00 am listed start)
Bike laps: 1
Key climbs: Two climbs per organiser
Run laps: 1
Nearest airport: New Plymouth (NPL)
Where to stay: New Plymouth
Booking: Support crews follow athletes; team entry possible.

Kiwiman official site (testimonials)article · Positive
Promotional testimonials from athletes: an Ultraman Australia champion likes the scenery and camaraderie and sees the race as a do-over; an Auckland finisher says it got into his soul; a multiple Ironman finisher calls the course brutal with a special community and values the support-crew model.
“Having your support crew follow and share the experience”
Shane Kent, Anthony Bus, Gareth Holebrook (as quoted by organiser)
Race Roster 2025 listingaggregator · Mixed
Factual listing, not a review: 4 am start, 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 194 km (121 mi) bike, 46 km (29 mi) run ending at Egmont Camphouse; individual fee NZ$480-550, double entry available. No cutoffs shown.

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.