Friday 5th June, 2026 (Optional)

3:00pm onwards – Free camping opens (Tents, campervans, caravans welcome)

3:00pm onwards – Optional bib collection and gear/marquee set up   

4:00pm to 4:45pm – Runner Panel

Saturday 6th June, 2026

6:30am to 7:50am – Bib collection and gear/marquee set up

7:50am – Race briefing in the corral

8:00am – First yard begins

Sunday 7th June, 2026

7:30am to 8:00am – Runners complete 24th yard (100 miles)

Event Finishes – ???

Future Event Date:

2027 – Saturday 12 June

Event Guide, Mud Map & Videos of the Facilities

2025 Coffs Backyard Ultra Event Guide (to be updated for 2026)

2026 Coffs Backyard Ultra Mud Map

Video of the Showground

Video of inside the Exhibition Pavilion

Event Location: Exhibition Pavilion, Coffs Harbour Showground, NSW (Google Maps). 

Facilities at Coffs Backyard Ultra

• A very large undercover space for gear and marquees
• Multiple toilet blocks (indoor and outdoor)
• Large kitchen with microwave, fridge and hot water urn
• Charging stations for phones, watches and headtorches
• Phone reception (throughout the course and at event hub)
• Dedicated quiet room
• Free hot showers before and during the event (100 metres away from the Exhibition Pavilion)

Note: From yard 25 onwards, only essential infrastructure will remain (e.g. race arch, hall, toilets) to reduce volunteer load. 

A professional first aid provider (Event First Aid) will be on-site for the whole event.

Free Camping & Parking

There are two areas for camping and parking. Both allow tents, swags, campervans, caravans, camper trailers, and marquees from 3:00pm on Friday 5th June, 2026.

Area 1: Adjacent to the corral and Exhibition Pavilion: For vehicles to be used at the end of each yard.

Area 2: Main Showground Arena: For vehicles not needing yard-by-yard access (e.g. setups inside the Exhibition Pavilion) plus parking for crew and spectators.

No registration needed for either area as there is plenty of space available.

Aid Station and Water Point

The main aid station will be located next to the corral and stocked with:

• Water
• Coca-cola
• Ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
  
• Trail Brew (neutral flavour)
• Lollies
• Chips
• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Ice (if forecasted over 23°C)
• From 4:00pm: Hot chips, noodles and soup 

Under Hogbin Drive bridge (3.2km and 4.1.km into the yard) there will be: 

• Unmanned and cupless water point
• Two portable toilets
• Professional first aid available for first 8 yards only

Food Vendors

Saturday morning: Coffee van + Pablo’s Kitchen (Bacon & Egg Rolls and Veggie options)

Saturday lunch: Pablo’s Kitchen (Veggie and Meat Nachos and Veggie and Meat Burgers)

Saturday 12:00pm: Ergofix Physiotherapy will be providing free massages and tending to any injuries or niggles and Refined Wellness will have Normatec Compression Therapy.

In the Corral

Corral location: Under the large undercover awning of the Exhibition Pavilion and on the adjacent bitumen driveway.

The corral will feature a large LED race clock, music and a finish arch with a 100 metre light display.

Each yard begins with a whistle countdown:

• 3 whistles = 3 minutes to go
• 2 whistles = 2 minutes to go
• 1 whistle = 1 minute to go
• A 10 second countdown in the corral 

You must be in the corral at the start of each 6.706km ‘yard’.

Bib Collection & Yard Tracking

All runners are assigned a reusable and washable numbered bib.

Bibs must be worn on your front during each yard.

After the event, you can return your bib or keep it for a future Coffs Trail Runners event.

Note: If you already have a CTR bib number from a previous event, please bring it.

Timing is done manually using large tally boards and the bibs do not have timing chips.

At bib collection, you’ll receive:

• Your bib number (if you don’t already have one)
• A bib number sticker
• A name sticker

Place both stickers on the tally board.

At the end of each yard, it is up to you to go to your name on the tally board.

Place the unique sticker (clipped to the tally board) for each completed yard to track your progress.

Over time, your stickers will spell a word.

If you DNF, make sure to place the final DNF sticker too.

Course Markings 

Course is marked using reusable reflective strips and corflute arrows with wooden stakes.

The turnaround point will be marked with a turnaround sign, reflective strips and sport cones.

What’s nearby?

Reflections Holiday Park: Accommodation next to Coffs Harbour Showground, including cabins, camping and powered sites.

Adjacent services: Coffs Harbour Ambulance Station and Coffs Harbour Police Station.

The Bailey Centre (opposite Coffs Harbour Showground and across the Pacific Highway) includes:

• 24/7 fuel and general store supplies
• Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse
• Nutrition Warehouse
• Rebel Sport
• Pizza Hut
• Harbour Palace Chinese Restaurant
• Mo Tackle & Outdoors
  
• Ridgey Didge Pies
• Popeyes Fish & Chips

Coffs Central Shopping Centre: 1km away.

Event Prizes

$1,000 cash prize to both the last male and the last female left standing, proudly sponsored by The Battery Boys. 

Coffs Backyard Ultra is a Bronze Ticket Event and the last one standing overall earn an automatic entry into a Silver Ticket Event.

Optional ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF) engraved wooden spoon event prize to all runners.

Complete 15 yard (100.6km) or more and receive a special engraved Coffs Backyard Ultra event glass.

Honour Roll

The Honour Roll on the website will list runners who complete:

• 4 yards (26.8km)
• 8 yards (53.6km)
• 15 yards (100.5km)
• 24 yards (100 miles)

Mandatory Gear

• Coffs Trail Runners Race Bib: Bring your own or collect one at the event (must be on front during each yard)
• Mobile Phone: Mandatory during night yards (5:00pm-6:00am) and recommended during day yards. Phone must have Event Contact Number saved (number TBC)
• Headtorch: Mandatory during night yards (5:00pm-6:00am)
• Cup or flask: This is a cupless event. Bring your own cup or flask for water, electrolytes, soup or noodles.

Recommended Gear

• Spare batteries and backup headtorch
• Charging cables (charging stations available)
• Personal nutrition (plus chair/table/esky). Water available at event.
• Waterproof rain jacket
• Hats or buffs or beanies
• Spare clothes such as socks, shirts, shorts, and shoes (for running and non-running)
• Towels (for free on-site hot showers) 
• Personal first aid kit (space blanket, blister care, sunscreen, lip balm, etc.)

Start & Wide Showground Loop (800m)

After leaving the corral, runners begin with 100 metres of bitumen heading straight to the junction with Coffs Creek Walkway.

Turn right onto a gravel pathway through the Coffs Harbour Showground.

Turn right again onto the internal bitumen road, now heading towards the main arena.

Another right turn onto a main arena bitumen road, looping anti-clockwise back to the corral.

Runners will be cheered on as they pass through the start arch again and return to the Coffs Creek Walkway junction.

This completes the 800m wide loop within the Showground.

Coffs Creek Walkway Section (5.906km)

After the 800m wide loop, runners turn left and follow Coffs Creek Walkway out to the turnaround point.

Runners then return to the Showground and head directly back to the corral.

This same course is used for every yard of the event.

Yard Surface Breakdown

• 82% shaded gravel path (5.5km)
• 10% wide boardwalks (700 metres)
• 8% bitumen (500 metres)

Elevation

• Total ascent per yard: 20 metres
• Total descent per yard: 20 metres

Backyard Ultra Rules & Gear Rules

All official Backyard Ultra rules apply. Please read them before the event.

Bronze Ticket Event: The last one standing earns an automatic entry into a Silver Ticket Event.

Headphones are allowed (must let you hear your surroundings e.g. Shokz).

No speaker systems or playing music out loud.

No prams are allowed due to the volume of runners on the Coffs Creek Walkway.

Minimum Age on Event Day

No minimum age.

Children under 10 years must run with an adult.

Camping, Parking & Setups

Free camping is available 3:00pm Friday 5th June and throughout the event.

Tents, swags, caravans, camper trailer and campervans are all welcome. 

Two camping/parking areas:.

• Area 1: Adjacent to the corral and Exhibition Pavilion – for vehicles used at the end of each yard.
  
• Area 2: Main Showground Arena – for vehicles not needing yard-by-yard access (e.g. setups inside the Exhibition Pavilion) plus parking for crew and spectators.
  

No registration needed for either area as there is plenty of space available.

Full access to the Exhibition Pavilion and hot showers before and during the event.

Marquees to be used at the end of each yard can be set up inside or outside the Exhibition Pavilion. Both areas are next to the corral.

Spectators & Support Crew

Support crew may assist runners only before the start of each yard.

Spectators are welcome at Coffs Harbour Showground but not allowed on the Coffs Creek Walkway.

Assistance during a yard, including pacing from non-competitive runners, will result in disqualification.

Support crew and spectators must park in the Main Showground Arena.

Refunds, Transfers, Deferrals & Withdrawals

No refunds are available.

No deferrals to next year’s event.

No reselling or transferring entries via the Coffs Backyard Ultra Facebook Group.

Spots will go to the next person on the waitlist.

Please notify us if you plan on withdrawing.

For any of the above, contact admin@coffstrailrunners.com

The International Trail Running Association (ITRA) Green Charter seeks to encourage the trail running community to join forces, working together to reduce the environmental impact of our sport. It lists practical steps event organisers can take to be more eco-responsible.

We are proud to support and align to the ITRA Green Charter. Steps we are taking to reduce our environmental footprint are found here: Coffs Trail Runners x ITRA Green Charter

Coffs Backyard Ultra takes place on the Coffs Creek Track adjacent to the Coffs Creek within the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Coffs Creek is a diverse and beautiful estuarine system of coastal swamp forests, rocky shores, mangroves, mudflats and salt marshes leading to incredible beaches and island vistas.

It is a dynamic brackish environment inhabited by a variety of fauna including fish, crustaceans, shorebirds and waders.

The Buluunggal walk section of Coffs Creek walk has a number of colourful interpretive signs describing how the Gumbaynggir people use the creek. Buluunggal is the Gumbaynggirr name for the creek, meaning mullet.

We ask that runners during the event or training:

• Do not disturb wildlife
• Stay on existing tracks to avoid soil erosion
• Do not litter or an automatic disqualification will occur
• Be eco-responsible where possible 

Trail Sisters support, enhance, and equalize women’s experience in trail racing. By implementing these standards race events commit to a welcoming experience for women participants. This will help to increase women’s participation in trail (and ultra) events as well as provide awareness of the needs, expectations, and support, female runners’ desire.

Coffs Trail Runners is proud to align to the Trail Sisters Approved Standards in all our races in the following ways:

2025 Event

4 yards: Katharine Taylor, Chris Hamilton, Scott Walcot, Russell Crane, Henry Davis, Maria Wood, Angela Paton, Andrew Hoffman, David Williams, Joshua Kidd, Tanya Porto, Stephen Philpott, Tim Reynolds, Belinda Passlow, Jason Passlow, Chris Giffin, Georgia Banks, Tony Foulstone, Peter Hancock, Matthew Evans, Helen Nevell, Pim Heaney, Liam Lenkic, Alexandra Bruggisser, Vince Cram, Greg Smith, Greg Davis, Fiona Kealy, Susan Kirk, Michael Staub, Peter Ince, Darren Jones, Jessie Smoothy, Elizabeth Mawhinney, Josh Frost

5 yards: Jayne Phillips, Aaron Eichner, Janelle Giffin, Lilli Smyth, Harry Musgrave, Zoe Musgrave, Michelle Storm, Jody Lee, Libbie Hayton, John Pappas, Sonia Weiss, David Berry, Lachlan Armstrong, Scott Everard, Damon McDonald-Kay, Ryan Kelso, Sonny Kemp, Lee-Anne McKinnon, Rachel O’Mara, Carlie Emery, Priscilla Boniface, David Finke, Matt Doyle, David O’Donnell, Andrew M, Nicole Feain, David Black, Jessica Moore, Melanie Larcombe, Matthew Wood, Belinda Price, Jess Van Dan Brink, Brendan Rennison, Byron Wicks, Heather Philpott, Jason Sipple, Erin Potter, Sissiel Keough, Brooke Stevens, Chris Lenkic, Erin Gallagher, Abigail Dawson, Rodney Gallagher, Daniel Causley, Will Palmer, Niki Wear, Kathryn Gibney, Chris Barnes, Greg Crowe

6 yards: Matthew Dunn, John Mawhinney, Matt Trounce, Sinead Ryan, David Keir, Joey Donovan, Lisa Redmond, Nicolas Semami, Brendan Goswell, Asher Cribb, Joanne Ashton, Adam Bancroft, Steven Cocksedge, Tim Kirchmer, Terry Yeark, Madeleine Richey, Sophie Shelton, Zoe da Roza, Claudia Tucker, Shayla Hayton, Carson Gallagher, Sean Ladds, Joe Quiring, Erin Bennett, Natalie Anderson, Brooke Gordon, Carl Marsden, Lillian Hodgkinson, Vanessa McDonald, Troy Van Kampen, Madison Terry, Andrew Ferguson

7 yards: Braden Hardaker, Beth Marmo, Isabel Snowdon, Sonja Hinton, Andrew Wilson, Matt Schaefer, Lauren Hodge, Danielle Brooke, Jase Hannon, Tom Paff, Kate Heyward, Daniel Jhureea, Kirby West, Michelle Versluys, Sue Gooley, Dylan Abdurahman, Jacqui Morrow, Ruth Butler, Ryan White, Nicholas Hade, David O’Sullivan, Jess Causley, Emily Evans, Chris Cook, Phil George, Brad Bryan, Harrison Palmer, Benjamin Williams, Chris Bennett 

2024 Event

4 yards: John Mawhinney, Briana Rooney, Chi Crowe, Cheryl Lane, Jennifer Williams, Elizabeth Lynch, Stacy Wong, Ed Brazier, Deborah Ellison, Simon Price, Jennifer Porra, Jan Rooney, Nick Barton, Scott Cawley, Julie Knight, Danielle McMahon, David Finch, Greg Davis, Erin Bennett, Chris Barnes, Matthew Evans Jason Cottell, David Gill, Josie Prime, Tara Barchalk, Ryan Knott, Melanie Silvester, Erin Potter, Josh Carroll, Brendan Ratcliffe, Sarah-Jane Williscroft, David Black, Damien Wood, Kate Bevitt, Monique Kusse, Joel Digney, Helen Nevell

5 yards: Annabelle Swainston, Alex Paton, Russell Crane, Conrad Martin, Ava Pearl, Tamara McSkimming, Glenn Knightly Chloe Geyer, Matt Ogilvie, Janelle Giffin, Maria Rosewood, Martin Seymour, Andrew Wong, Shane Flannery, Julie Catalano, Kathryn Gibney, David Hughes

6 yards: Kerry Westwood, Janie Mahoney, Rob Gale, Corinne Stevenson, Dean Caton, Harry Musgrave, Clarissa Hull, Alex Le Mesurier, Hayden Ward, Rebekah Atkinson, Peter Feain, Lauren Hodge, Angela Paton, Trish Dawson, Angela Luxford, Nathan Green, Jake Sykes, Susan Kirk

7 yards: Maurice Gregory, Sonia Weiss, Nathan Howe, Lilli Smyth, Fiona Kealy, Malcolm Conway, Matt Newhouse, Sarah Morgan

2025 Event

8 yards: Hayden Ward, Lauren Smart, Braden Lewis, Shaun Bayndrian, Ben Smith, Fraser Robinson, Teven Gallagher, Clementine Eaton, Elize Strydom, Anastasia Alexiou, Luke Birmingham, Kurt Bienefelt, Brad Simmons, Annabelle Nance, Louis Birks, Kieran Marshall, Matt Newhouse, Sarah Hindes, Karisa Azevedo, Andrew Austin, Christopher Burns, Kate Marsden, Kellie Sinclair, Kane Ryan, Jack Evans, Adam Ellison, Danny Martins, Matthew McAleer, Michael Jones, Casey Smith, Peter Zabaks

9 yards: Victoria Van De Stadt, Angela Luxford, Rebekah Atkinson, Drew Twyford, Chris Pankurst, Simon Peter Byrne, Mardi Sumner, Jim Sanderson, Brodie Wynter, Maurice Gregory

10 yards: Simon Manzano, Marlin Hoppen, Gina Scott, Ben Appleby, Scott Cawley, Nathan Chapman, Kerry Westwood, Sharon Reynolds, Karl Phillips, Lisa Hewett, Jessica Dorrian, Christopher Binks, Nicolas Russ, Matt Carrington, Kate Pensini, Tom Craig, Oona Swinson-Dulhunty, Steven Dewhurs

11 yards: Damian Riches, Ben Russell, Nigel Durbridge, Ashleigh Dawson, Jessica Whight, Rebecca Riches, Erinn Simpkins, Christopher Berry, Ryan Ford, Katrina Hayes, Rigan McAree, Ross Burgess, Abby Donohoe, Jacob Whatman

12 yards: Madison Scott, Sam Thomas, William Kenney-Herbert, Aimee Pirie, Ashley Birks, Adam Simpkins, Iago Brasileiro, Anthony Donohoe, Sammy Bond, Stuart Hucker, Johnathon Craig-Dobson, Jonathan Jones, Jules Mackin, David Hessey, Susie Jones, Matthew Dobb

13 yards: Ben Harris, Nicole Ingram, Arum Holden, Darian Galloway, Andrew Morgan

14 yards: No DNFs

2024 Event

8 yards: Jessica Loader, Tara Tooth, Jenny Austin, Mardi Sumner, Katrina Hayes, Shahrynn Edmunds, Simonne Clark, Holly Vanderveer, Keelan Birch, Chris Hamilton, Karl Phillips, Matt Doyle, Matthew Dobbs, Samuel Schmarr, Jim Sanderon, Chris Giffin, Christopher Burns, Steve Thompson, James Forrester, David O’Sullivan, Nathan Roper, Jeremiah Rowlands, Anthony Donohoe, Louis Birks, Kurt Bienefelt, James Marshall, Jessica Loader

9 yards: Elize Strydom, Kate Alliston, Zoe de Roza, David Hessey, Clancy Skinner, Matthew McAleer, Rhys Clarke, Ben Appleby, Seth Diffey, Paul Woodhouse

10 yards: Karla Barlow, Sheree Cottell, Kate Thornton, Chris George, Nicholas Russ, Matt Bell, Stuart Hucker, Christopher Berry, James Alexander, Brett Crowe, Warren Ansell, Harry McAllister, Dylan Wilkins, Brendon Dean

11 yards: Ash Mondolo, Melissa Rowe, Jonathan Jones, Bryson Azzopardi, Colin MacLaurin, Henry Sheehan

12 yards: Kylie McGrath, Rachel Cleary, Nicholas Taylor, Dean Irving, Victor Lunt, Mike O’Connell, Ash Goulding, Sam McAllister, Mark Garner, Jack Ryan

13 yards: Vice Hazdovac, Sinclair Park, Steve Chilcott, Christopher Binks, Pim Bergers, Graham Glover

14 yards: No DNFs

2025 Event

15 yards: Theresa Evans, Mike O’Connell, Glenn Kightley, Matthew Tighe, Kiralee Carter, Benjamin Shearman, Graham Glover, Luke Bonnor, Alexandre Vermis, David Matthews, James Davis, Jeff Worth, Jake Eastgate, Steve Boniface, Matthew Whight, Thomas Doyle, Ben Monaghan, Drew McCullough, Daniel Woods, Brendon Dean, Lachlan Cullen, Michael Crowley, Kyle Hughes, Hudson Worth, Mark Vile

16 yards: Jack Baird, Amanda Hodgkinson, Mark Westman, Mark McClelland, Alexander Eadie, Alesha Kalz, Ashleigh Lawler, Jeff Worth

17 yards: Nicholas McDonald, Ben Gooley

18 yards: Crystal Van Rysbergen

19 yards: Richard Pring, Henry Kocatekin

20 yards: Brian Knowles

21 yards: Ryan Press

2024 Event

15 yards: Andrew Ferguson, Andrew McDonald, James Davis, Aaron Cassar, Dylan Di Sciascio, Gerald Taylor, Jack Baird

16 yards: Thomas Doyle, Luke Rombi

17 yards: James Dowzard

18 yards: Jenny Friend, Brian Knowles

19 yards: Clare Palmer (Last Female Standing), Christopher Hageman

2025 Event

24 yards: Annabelle Swainston

25 yards: Clare Palmer, Lewis Maciver, Sam McAllister

26 yards: Jason Gorham

27 yards: Travis Ireland 

30 yards: Henry Jambor, Joshua Duff

34 yards: Michael Sheekey

36 yards: Matthew Whatman (Male Assist)

37 yards: Oliver Sheekey (Last Male Standing)

2024 Event

25 yards: Jason Gorham (Male Assist)

26 yards: Jonathan Ash (Last Male Standing)