Buffalo Beach anchors the event, with routes extending along the Coromandel coastline, marina, harbour, and waterways. The Whitianga Run Festival offers a straightforward coastal run day: "flat, fast, and scenic courses" with abundant water views and space for runners and walkers to find their pace.
The course is 99% flat, combining sealed footpaths, roads, and short hard-packed trail sections, suitable for those preferring a quick-feeling surface without significant climbs. Depending on the chosen route, participants might run through town and back on quiet roads, or traverse from Buffalo Beach to Brophy's Beach along the river and foreshore. Aid stations will be available, and a "lively community atmosphere" awaits at the finish line.