Washpool World Heritage Trails

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: Event is now been overseen by Coffs Trail Runners. Race director for 2022 is Keelan Birch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks have incredible variety, from world heritage listed rainforests to clear rivers flowing through flowering high country heathlands, dramatic granite outcrops and wild river gorges. The area also features an extensive network of well formed trails to make it ideal trail running and great natural campsites.

 

Now listed by AURA.

Race Day Information

RegisterCourse Details

Race Photos

Registration

Where

Mulligans Hut, Gibraltar Range NSW 2370

Race Start

When

Sunday 27 March 2022

Entry Fees and Conditions

The 9km is suitable for a family outing and walkers, for the 26km and the 52km you need to be 18 years old on the day.

9 km  event $10
26km event $25
52km event $50

Let us know upon your registration if you will be camping on location at the Mulligans Hut Campground. It’s a great spot to camp and to meet up with other runners before the race – and bring your family!

Limited Numbers

Maximum number of starters is 150, so be quick to register to not miss out!.

Race Day

Race Day Schedule

 

06:30 – Registration / bib collection opens

06:50 – Race briefing for the 52km Ultra

07:00 – Start 52km Ultra

07:50 – Race briefing for the 26km race

08:00 – Start 26km race

08:20 – Race briefing for the 9km race / family outing / walk

08:30 – Start 9km race / family outing / walk 

T-shirts will be available for purchase after the events for $35.

 

Hydration and Nutrition

This is not your average trail run as it traverses some remote areas, where you may be out on your own for a while. Therefore, we rely upon runners to be well prepared, sufficiently hydrated and fuelled up beforehand and have planned how much water and food they will need to take with them to complete the race. The 26km run has a water point, and there are 4 water points on the 52km course. However, you must carry at least 1.5l for the 26km and at least 2.0l of water for the 52km.   

The 52km has two checkpoints when you cross the Gwydir Highway, see the downloadable maps below. Here is where you will find your drop bags with goodies, so make sure you have them ready and submitted when you register in the morning / pick up your bib. 

Make sure you take your litter with you or leave it at the checkpoints.

Post Event Catering:

The entry fee includes post race refreshments, including cake, fruit, cola, water and sports drink to help you replenish and recover afterwards.

Getting there

All events start at the Mulligan’s Hut Picnic Area in the Gibraltar Range National Park off the Gwydir Highway.

As it is a bit of a trip for most of us, we recommend camping at Mulligans Hut Camping Ground, which has kitchen / toilet facilities and a great swimming hole. Please leave the 15 official camp sites to those who bring along their families or who have more than one tent.  If you have a single tent, join the other ‘singles’ at the communal camp ground near the finish line.If that space is completely occupied, use the area near the start line, at Mulligans Hut itself. Please use the official toilets instead of the bush and make sure you take all your rubbish with you.

For those who don’t want to camp out at the start, you can base your weekend at the historic town of Glen Innes, which is on the quickest and possibly nicer route from Brisbane to Washpool via Cunningham’s Gap. You will come through Stanthorpe and past wineries, which are great to visit.

If you come via the coast, you might prefer cabins or camping at Jackadgery (the friendly Mann River Caravan Park), just before the National Park starts, and drive the last section up the hill to the start on race morning, just be careful, it can be slippery there.

Race Start

Course Details

There’s a short course of 9km including streams, granite cascades and a taste of rainforest on the Gibraltar side, a 26km course with a mix of flat and hilly sections and a little of everything, and an ultra option of 52km traversing the whole World Heritage Trail loop around both Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks!

Downloadable maps

Our downloadable PDF maps are now georeferenced. That means besides displaying and printing, you can load them in Avenza maps app on your device and see where you are on the course:

  1. If not yet done, install the Avenza Maps app
  2. Click on the map link below on your device. If it opens in a PDF reader, go to the options and select ‘open with’.
  3. Select ‘avenza maps’
  4. The map will be imported. Select it and you are ready to use it.

General Area Map

52km Course Map

26km Course Map

9km Course Map

ultra Marathon

Distance: 52km

Strava Route: https://www.strava.com/activities/1230668254

Movescount Route

Cut-off time: 8 hours 30minutes

Starting in the Gibraltar Range National Park off Gwydir Highway at Mulligans picnic area, proceed anti-clockwise round the World Heritage Trail to finish back at the start.

This is a remote area and entrants should carry their preferred supplements.

Checkpoint 1 at 9 Km and checkpoint 2 at 35 Km carry water, electrolytes, cola and lollies. Drop bag wil be taken here. Water points are at 15 and 44 Km.

half Marathon

Distance: 26km

Strava link: 26km

Starting in the Gibraltar Range National Park off Gwydir Highway at Mulligans picnic area, out-and-back to Dandahra Crags then clockwise round 9km loop to finish at the start.

Water and electrolytes are available where the trail crosses the Mulligan Drive.

Short Course

Distance: 9km

Starting at the Mulligans picnic area follow the 9km loop trail beside streams, across cascades, through fern understory and rainforest back to the start.

General Information and Contacts

You can meet other runners at the Mulligans Hut picnic area; allow time for driving in and setting up camp. Options include running or walking great trails which aren’t part of the race eg spot the Waratah on the Needles track; mountain biking is permitted on many trails eg Little Dandahra Creek; canoeing or inner tube floating down Little Dandahra Creek back to Mulligans.

For anyone driving early in the morning, the Kangaroos will be out there!

Please carpool!

 

Please email the TRAQ team for further race enquiries: events@traq.org.au