Adventure Racing
10 of Australia's best trail races and ultramarathons
Looking to take your running to new, more scenic heights? Look no further. Here are 10 of the best Aussie trail running events.
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Trail running and ultramarathons have seen a popularity surge over the last few years. Partly because they represent mankind’s triumph over pain and adversity, and partly because they look good on Instagram.
There are over 100 ultras in Australia alone. These are some of our favourites: a mix of iconic trail races, technical climbs and gut-busting marathons through some of the most beautiful scenery in Australia.
Before we get into the list, a handy distinction for you - a lot of people might use ‘trail running’ and ‘ultra running’ interchangeably - but they’re not. There are some predominantly road ultras, which are going to be very different to rocky or technical ultras.
We probably don’t need to say it but work your way up to an ultra. Start with a shorter trail race, get used to the different terrain and fuelling needs, and find your groove. Pacing a longer race is also a lot harder than trying to pace a 10km - you don’t want to learn this one the hard way.
Here are the best (and most brutal) trail races in Australia.
01
Ultra Trail Kosciuszko
From the same group that put on Ultra Trail Australia in the Blue Mountains, comes UTK (Ultra Trail Kosciuszko). It offers 4 distances, from the 30km, to the 50km, the 100km, and even a ‘miler’ - that’s right, 100 miles.
Your first look at UTK would probably come in the 50km; a very runnable and non-technical race that will still present a challenge. It has around 1,350m of climbing over the 50km, significantly less than the 2,200m at Ultra Trail Australia.
Both the 50km and 100km start in the ski resort town of Perisher, and the timing of this one in late November each year is attractive for many - especially road runners looking to complete their first ultra. Road marathons are done for the year in Australia by the time summer rolls around, so many see UTK as a last chance to get a good race in until after summer.
When: Late November
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
More information about the race here.
02
Roller Coaster Run
Yep, it’s exactly as it sounds. Taking place in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges, Roller Coaster offers a 23km and a 46km event, and as you can expect - they’re quite hilly. There is barely a flat section of trail on the whole course - you’re constantly either working the glutes and hamstrings going uphill, or engaging your quads to stay upright on the steep downhills.
The race takes place inside a forest with plenty of tree cover, so you’re going to be running mostly on a nicely maintained, wide trail with very few technical sections.
You might also get some of the nicest views of the eastern suburbs and the city of Melbourne in the distance as you pass through Burke’s Lookout.
Another great feature of Roller Coaster Run is its proximity to Melbourne. It’s around 45 minutes from the city, which makes it one of the closest options for a decent trail hit-out.
When: 19th October 2024
Where: Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges
More information about the race here.
03
Red Bull Race The Sun
Red Bull Race The Sun 2023
© Riley Wolff
Red Bull Race The Sun 2023
© Red Bull
Red Bull Race The Sun 2023
© Red Bull
Red Bull Race The Sun 2023
© Red Bull
The aim is simple in Red Bull Race The Sun, you and your team must run from a beach, through the city, and across the mountains to the finish line 345km away... in 24 hours or less!
Teams of six will race relay-style from Surfers Paradise Beach to Tenterfield on the Gold Coast across dirt, trail and road starting at sunrise and finishing at the next sunrise.
When: May 31 – June 1, 2024
Location: Surfers Paradise, Queensland
04
Red Bull Defiance
Keeping those energy levels up at Red Bull Defiance
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
What happens when you combine trail running with mountain biking, rafting, and kayaking over 150km? Red Bull Defiance.
It was a question that nobody had ever thought to answer until seasoned runner Courtney Atkinson put the idea on the table. While not strictly a run or ultramarathon, this challenge is up there for those looking to push the envelope.
The race combines trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, and other challenging disciplines to create a true test of physical and mental strength. Teams of two navigate through diverse terrains, including mountains, forests, rivers, and coastal areas, encountering natural obstacles along the way.
Defiance demands not only endurance but also strategic decision-making and teamwork, as competitors tackle the demanding course in pairs. The race is renowned for its epic challenges, such as steep ascents, technical descents, and grueling water crossings.
When: 2025 (Red Bull Defiance is taking a hiatus in 2024)
Location: South Mission Beach, Queensland
More information about the run here.
05
Buffalo Stampede
Victoria’s Buffalo Stampede is Australia’s first sanctioned Skyrace (technically any race that involves “running in the mountains above 2,000m altitude where the climbing difficulty does not exceed II° grade and the incline is over 30%”). It takes place every year in the Victorian Alps. If this is your first time, start with the 10km SkySprint. From there you can work up to the SkyRun (20km), the SkyMarathon (42km) or the ridiculous SkyUltra (75km). Just start at Bright and run to the top of Mt Buffalo. As you do.
When: March
Location: Bright, Victoria
More information about the run here.
06
The Great Ocean Trail Ultra
This race doesn’t get the publicity it deserves. The Great Ocean Trail Ultra (formerly Great Ocean Walk / GOW100) winds through the Otway National Park on Victoria’s surf coast, from Apollo Bay all the way to the Twelve Apostles. It’s the brainchild of Andy Hewat, one of Australia’s most experienced ultra runners, and it’s been going strong since 2009. The single-track route is a real point-to-point stunner, taking you through the mist-covered rainforests and around windswept rocky headlands. If you’re quick, you’ll get to watch the sun set over the Twelve Apostles. You can sign up for 95km or the full 100km.
When: October
Where: Apollo Bay, Victoria
More information about the race here.
07
The Blackall 100
The Blackall 100 is one of Australia’s newer ultra races. It’s a qualifying event for California’s Western States Endurance Run and the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, so you can guess the calibre of competitors. Having said that, it’s pretty friendly for ultra newbies: the trail itself is well cut, snaking through the Blackall Range in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the temperatures are usually balmy, and there’s a 50km ‘half ultra’ for beginners. Pro tip: practice your rock hops and river crossings, there are some ankle-busting stretches along the way.
When: October
Where: Mapleton, Queensland
More information about the run here.
08
The Surf Coast Century
If you like your trail races with a touch of sand, check out the famous Surf Coast Century. It’s another gruelling ultra along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. This race is perfect for trail-running first-timers. The course is accessible (switching from ocean beach to wildflower hinterland to spiralling single track), there are plenty of support services along the way, and the Century’s figure-of-eight track means friends and family can easily cheer you on. If you’re nervous about tackling the 50km or 100km solo ultras, they also offer a 100km relay for teams of two, three or four. See you at the Anglesea finish line for some JUMS.
When: September
Location: Anglesea, Victoria
More information about the run here.
09
Ultra-Trail Australia
Among serious trail racers, Ultra-Trail Australia is the country’s grand slam event. It’s not the oldest ultra in Australia, but it’s become one of the classic endurance festivals, drawing thousands of runners from all over the world. The course itself is a well-built single track, carved through the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. Stunning views are a given. The real question is which race to choose? The classic 100km Ultra-Trail Australia 100? The beginner-friendly UTA22 (which climbs 22km and rises 1200m up to Scenic World)? The highly technical UTA11? There’s a race for everyone at Ultra Trail Australia.
When: May
Location: Katoomba, NSW
More information about the run here.
10
Six Foot Track Marathon
Six-Foot Track has been called the toughest marathon in the world, let alone Australia. The 45km trail is no ultra, sure, but the historic track between Katoomba and the Jenolan Caves is known as a real bugger. Massive elevation changes, soaring Blue Mountain temperatures, river crossings, technical rock hopping – it’s probably the most well-rounded trail race in the country. The Six-Foot Marathon started in 1984, and every dollar raised goes straight to the Blue Mountain Rural Fire Service, who also man the support stations on race day.
When: March
Location: Katoomba, NSW
More information about the run here.
11
Run Larapinta
You wouldn’t expect to see many world-class trail races in the Northern Territory. The climate is generally too hot, and river crossings become pretty dicey when saltwater crocodiles get involved. Which is partly what makes the Larapinta Trail so special. It’s one of the most famous arid-zone hikes in the world. Most people tackle the 223km route over several weeks, with food drops and support networks, but there is a four-day, slightly crazy multi-stage event here: Run Larapinta. Runners can sign up for either the short course (11km to 30km stages) or the long course (20km to 45km stages). Either way, you’re running through the wild MacDonnell Ranges and finishing at Glen Helen.
When: August
Location: Larapinta Trail, NT
More information about the run here.
12
Delirious W.E.S.T.
With a name like that, you might have guessed what you’re in for. The Delirious Western Endurance Scenic Trail is Australia’s first ever 200-mile event. That’s 321km for anyone playing at home. It runs along the famous Bibbulmun Track, all the way from the old logging settlement of Northcliff to the port city of Albany. Starting on a Wednesday and finishing on a Sunday, runners are given a mighty 104-hour cut-off time. This probably isn’t the most gruelling 200-mile ultra in the world (it lacks the elevation of some of the more famous routes), but February temperatures in WA can make this an absolute scorcher. One for the pros only.
When: February
Location: Bibbulmun Track, WA
More information about the run here.
Love running? Watch as Japanese mountain runner Ruy Ueda embarks on a challenge to run himself into the record books by setting the new fastest-known time for running all of Mount Fuji’s main trails in one stroke.
23 min
Mount Fuji in One Stroke
Ruy Ueda aims to set the new fastest-known time for running all of Mount Fuji’s main trails in one stroke.
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