An obstacle and mud festival which has attracted huge crowds in Australia and aims to empower women is coming to New Zealand for the first time – thanks to a chance meeting in Tauranga.

Miss Muddy is a female-only obstacle course of up to 6km of foam, colour, climbing, crawling, slipping, and lots of mud and laughter.

Get down, get muddy and have fun. Photo: Supplied.

Sarah Alexander met Miss Muddy's Australian director when he was attending a wedding in Tauranga at No 1 The Strand, and immediately decided she wanted to bring Miss Muddy to New Zealand.

Sarah says Miss Muddy is unique in that it's non-competitive and aims to empower, support and celebrate women in a non-threatening environment.

'Miss Muddy is all about encouraging women and girls to be active and healthy, and to challenge themselves,” Sarah says.

'It's about getting together with a group of friends, getting outside and getting active with your girls but having heaps of fun and laughs while doing it. Mud fights are a must.

'The event isn't timed, and the emphasis is definitely on joining in, getting active and having fun. It's really important to understand that there are no judgements, and no expectations at Miss Muddy – it's about giving it a go.

'We encourage women of all ages and fitness levels to come as they are, and let their hair down for a day full of fun.”

Miss Muddy New Zealand will be held over two days at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, on January 23 and 24, next year.

The event has been a hit in Australia, where it has been held in multiple states in 2014 and 2015.

Women can sign up as an individual or can make a team – inviting all of their friends to join them for the ultimate 'Girls' Dirty Day Out”.

'It wouldn't be Miss Muddy without lots of mud – get ready to get down and dirty, because staying clean is not an option. We take great pride in our mud,” Sarah says.

'It's not just mud though - the Miss Muddy colour cannons and foam cannons are both highlights of the course.

'At the Australian events the women have enjoyed dancing in the foam, having the time of their lives and celebrating the day with their fellow Miss Muddies.

'The colour is something everyone looks forward to – a big bang, followed by a colourful splat in the face and an awesome photo for them to remember the Miss Muddy colour cannons experience.

'The course includes a variety of obstacles designed to challenge participants, but all obstacles are manageable - there is an easy side and a hard side. But if you really don't want to do one, it doesn't matter. There are no penalties for skipping a challenge.”

Women can take part as individuals or as a team, Sarah says.

'Miss Muddy isn't just about the course, it's a full day out and the perfect opportunity for a girls' weekend away.

'Our over-18 day will include a great party at the end, allowing you to turn the event into an awesome girls' weekend away. We've had some great support from some of the hotels and motels in the Waikato, and have some Miss Muddy special deals.”

The Sunday event is a Family Day in which girls aged 13-plus can join in the fun and run the course with their mum, sisters, aunts and friends.

'It's a great thing for families to do together – at Miss Muddy events in Australia there have been three generations of one family, from teenagers to senior citizens, completing the course together and having an absolute ball while they do it,” Sarah says.