FAQS

Got a burning question about Southern Cross Round the Bays? These FAQs may be able to help you out! 

If you’re left with an unanswered question, please feel free to email us on roundthebays@stuff.co.nz

When is the event?

SAVE THE DATE! Round the Bays will be held on Sunday, 3 March 2024. The event starts at 9.15am with the first wave of Elite Wheelchair, Elite Runners & Runners. The second (Joggers) and third (Walkers) waves start at 9.30am & 9.45am respectively.

Where is the course?

Our course is an 8.4km flat course from Auckland CBD to St Heliers Bay. The start is located on Quay Street and continues along the city's picturesque coastline along Tamaki Drive to a spectacular finish at St Heliers Bay.

How do I enter?

Entries for the 2024 event are open!
Payment can be made using a credit or debit card. If you do not have a credit or debit card, New Zealand Post provides a prepaid card service. Please take care with your entry as we cannot change your start group after your registration is completed. ENTER NOW

Who can enter?

Anyone! At Southern Cross Round the Bays we welcome everyone, any ability, any age. When entering please assign yourself to the appropriate start group based on your running or walking speed. We ask that those with strollers or non-racing wheelchairs to please start in the Walkers group for safety reasons.

Can I enter more than one person at a time?

Of course! We have a couple of easy options - you can all sign up to take part together on the day or virutally, or have a mix of on the day and virtual entries. Once you’ve completed your own registration details, at the end of the entry form you can select “add another entry”. Add as many people as you wish, making sure that all entry details are correct (we recommend no more than 10 per transaction) before proceeding to the checkout. Or you can be a hero and create a team, see these options below!

How do I create a team?

Rallying the troops and creating a team is super easy! Just select the “Create a team” button here. Team Managers then have the option to create their team, register themselves as a participant (if applicable), then complete the entry form.
Once completed, Team Managers can invite others to join via their my.roundthebays.co.nz Event Dashboard. Those invited will then be prompted to enter their own registration details. If you wish to create a team and want to fill in all individual entries yourself, please make sure you carefully check the summary page before making your payment as no refunds can be given for change of mind. Please note that the receipt for all entries will go to the first person entered. Each individual will receive their own eTicket, sent to the email address entered on their individual form.

How do I get my race bib and timing tag?

To pick up your race bib and timing tag, head to our NEW Bib Collection venue. No bibs issued for Virtual entries.

Bib Collection location

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, 181 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011

Bib collection hours

• Thursday 29 February: 12.00pm- 7.00pm (corporate teams only)

• Friday 1 March: 8.00am - 7.00pm (all participants)

• Saturday 2 March: 8.00am - 4.00pm (all participants)

Parking: There is limited free parking available close to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Team bibs

You can collect your team members bibs and timing tags. Simply download your Team List from your team's my.roundthebays.co.nz Event Dashboard and bring that instead. Remember to let your team members know that you are collecting their bibs for them!

Round the Bays Virtual You don't need a bib if you are taking part in Round the Bays Virtual as the handy app will track your time and publish your official result.

What category should I enter?

Please select the start group relevant for your participation Elite Runner (sub 36 mins), Runner (36-50mins), Jogger (50-80mins) and Walker (80+ mins). Prams/pushchairs/buggies must be entered into the Walker category.

Free public transport!

Thanks to our mates at Auckland Transport, you can take advantage of free travel on scheduled bus and train services to and from the event. Simply show your race bib when you board!

Conditions apply. Offer excludes ferry services and applies for travel on Sunday 3 March 2024 from start of timetabled services until 5pm.

Where should I park?

For those wishing to park in the CBD there are several options close to the start line available such as Britomart, Downtown and Arena car parks. Click here for more information.

How do I get my bag full of belongings from the start to finish line?

There will be a Bag Drop truck at the start line situated on the corner of Quay and Tangihua Streets, this will close at 9.15am. Pick up from the finish line on The Parade side of Vellenoweth Green. If you are catching a pre-race shuttle to the start line you can also drop your drawstring bag to Vellenoweth Green before you board the shuttle. Please note, you must supply your own bag and it must be a drawstring bag only. The bag should be no bigger than a shoe bag – no backpacks or handbags, due to safety reasons. Only individual items may be placed within the bag such as change of clothes, lightweight jacket, post race snacks etc. Please note bag collection closes at approximately 12:30pm. If it is closed when you arrive, please go to the Information Tent to collect your bag.

What options are available for transport between start and finish line?

We’ll be running free event shuttles between the start and finish areas - simply show your bib to the event staff at the pick up zone for your free ride.

Pre-event shuttle:
From The Parade (Vellenoweth Green) to Commerce Street (start line): 6.45am - 8.30am
From Melanesia Road (Madills Farm) to Commerce Street (start line): 7am - 8.30am

During and post-event shuttle:
From Long Drive to Britomart: 10.30am - 2.15pm
From Melanesia Road (Madills Farm) to Britomart: 11.30am - 2.15pm

Please remember to bring a face covering for the shuttles, and please note there will be wait times at peak periods, so don’t rush. Sit back, enjoy a drink, some food and soak up the entertainment, you will have earned it!

What happens if I have lost my race bib or timing tag?

There's always another one. If you have lost or damaged your bib or timing tag you can buy a replacement from the start line Bib Collection Info Tent, on the corner of Quay St and Tangihua St for $10. Please come early and have your eTicket ready to show staff as it will be busy pre-event.

What do I do if I need first aid?

We will have St John first aid stations located along the course to help if you are feeling unwell. Please read our 'Yeahs & Nahs' to ensure you keep safe on the day.
Injuries: Should you injure yourself or witness an incident whilst on-site or participating in the event, please report this as soon as possible to event staff or go chat to the team at the information tent at Vellenoweth Green.

What do I do about lost children?

If a child has become lost, please report their details to event organisers at the Information Tent (start line, finish and Madills Farm) where appropriate immediate action will be taken to ascertain the child's whereabouts.

Are there any time restrictions?

Simple answer is yes - If you're one of those who won't run out of words and wants to exercise your vocabulary and your legs ... remember you have to be at the following points at these times: 5km to go mark at 11:00am, 3km to go mark at 11:30am, and 1km to go mark at 12:00 noon. This is to ensure all roads can be fully operational for the public within the required times.

Please note the start time is subject to change and all participants must have crossed the start line prior to 10.15am, and completed the course at the finish by 12:15pm.

If necessary on the day, these times may change and instructions from marshalling staff will be final. If a participant is outside of the course cut off times the participant will be disqualified and must take responsibility for their actions and make their own arrangements for any support after this time. Stuff will not be obliged to refund any portion of the entry fee in such circumstances. Due to the council requirements to re-open Tamaki Drive, you must cross the finish line by 12.15pm

What do I do when I finish?

Celebrate, you did it! But more seriously, once you have crossed the finish line, please keep moving towards the drink stations and move as far as you can into the recovery area before stopping.

Please don’t wait for friends and family just past the finish line as this creates congestion for runners finishing after you. We suggest arranging to meet your friends and family at a designated meeting place. Check out the finish map for a place to meet or park up and have a photo with our giant RTB hashtag. We’ll have plenty of great music, activations and food vendors to delight your taste buds out on the Green!

How do I get my finishers certificate?

Your finishers certificate will be available to download from your my.roundthebays.co.nz account after the event

What do I do if I have lost something?

Don't stress! Come see our friendly staff at the Information Tent. If you get home and realise you have lost something, then please email the following details to roundthebays@stuff.co.nz and we can add them to our system so that we can contact you if it’s found: first name, last name, email, phone no, bib no, lost item.

When can I get my official result?

Your official time will be available via your myroundthebays.co.nz account as soon as you cross the finish line. Final results, including placings, will be available at your myroundthebays.co.nz after the event.

Yeahs

We’re not the fun police, but…

• Adults, please be responsible and supervise children at all times. If they manage to slip through the cracks, please head to the Lost Kids tent at Vellenoweth Green or speak to the nearest marshal

• We are prepared for accidents. St John is located at the start area, along the course near the water stations and at the finish area

• There are plenty of water stations at the start area, along the course and at the finish line. Please use the recycling bins provided.

• For all those emergency stops, portable toilets are located close to the start and finish areas and at locations along the course

• Look after yourself and others. Keep an eye out for uneven surfaces including cracks, potholes and bumps and if you come across an injured person, stop and render assistance, then inform a marshal at the next checkpoint

• Participants must obey the instructions of police and course marshals. Although all roads on the course are closed to traffic, please watch for the presence of vehicles along the route, crossing your path, from behind and in front, at all times

Nahs

There aren’t too many ‘No’s’ so we appreciate your co-operation in following the few below

• No pets, bicycles, scooters, hand cycles, skates, skateboards or roller blades are permitted

• No poles or sharp objects

• No drones