Challenge Wanaka Half Triathlon
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About the race
Challenge Wānaka is a multi-day triathlon festival held on the shores of Lake Wānaka in New Zealand’s South Island, set within the Southern Alps and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. The event on 20 February 2027 features races for more than 2,500 participants across professional, age-group and junior categories, with thousands of spectators and an expo in the town center. The main middle-distance event (100 distance) comprises a lake swim, a two-lap 80 km bike course along the water’s edge, and an out-and-back run that follows the lakeside trail from Wānaka township. The swim uses a marked rectangular route in Roys Bay.
Course terrain includes rolling roads on the bike and a lakeside path on the run; bike elevation for the 100 distance is listed as 82 m. Average event conditions are shown as 19°C air temperature, 16°C water temperature and 15 kph wind. Other race options include aqua bike and a Junior Challenge for primary school ages with shorter swim, bike and run distances. The festival provides a 2026 finishers medal, a finishers t-shirt and a neoprene swim cap for participants.
Organisers highlight sustainability efforts and a 2024 recognition as Challenge Family’s Most Eco-Friendly Race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
