Friday 6th June, 2025 (Optional)

3:00pm onwards – Free camping opens. Tents, swags, gazebos, cars, campervans or caravans are welcome. See the ‘At the event’ section for details.

3:00pm onwards – Optional gear/marquee set up at Coffs Harbour Showground

3:00pm to 5:00pm – Optional bib collection at Coffs Harbour Showground

5:00pm to 5:45pm – Runner Panel inside Exhibition Pavilion at Coffs Harbour Showground 

Saturday 7th June, 2025

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

7:50am – Race briefing in the corral

8:00am – First lap starts

4:00pm – Switch from modified to standard course

Sunday 8th June, 2025

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

8:00am to 8:45am – Free gentle mobility class (BYO mat) inside the Exhibition Pavilion thanks to Medicise

Event Finishes – ???

Future Event Dates:

2026 – Saturday 6 June

2027 – Saturday 12 June

Event Guide & Mud Map

2025 Coffs Backyard Ultra Event Guide

Coffs Backyard Ultra Mud Map 

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

Facilities

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

Staying at Coffs Harbour Showground

Parking area adjacent to the corral and Exhibition Pavilion: For marquees, tents, caravans, camper trailers and campervans to be used at the end of each lap.

Parking on Main Showground Arena: For marquees, tents, caravans, camper trailers and campervans + general carparking for runners, support crew and spectators who don’t need access to their vehicle each lap or who are set up inside the Exhibition Pavilion.   

In both parking areas, marquees, tents, swags, caravans, camper trailers and campervans are welcome for free from Friday 3:00pm and throughout the event.

You can either set up here for the event or have one set up inside the inside the Exhibition Pavilion and one set up further outside for sleeping after the event.

No need to register your set up as the area is very big with plenty of room.

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

Saturday lunch: OMG Decadent Donuts (vegan) + 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.

Sunday 8:00am-8:45am: Medicise will be leading a free gentle mobility class (BYO mat) inside the Exhibition Pavilion.

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

Aid Station & Water Point

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

• Water
• Coca-cola
• Ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
  
• Trail Brew (neutral flavour)
• Lollies
• Chips
• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Ice (if forecasted over 23°C
• Hot chips, Noodles and Soup (from 5:00pm)

A on-course water point (cupless and unmanned) will be under Hogbin Drive bridge for use during laps.

On-Course Water Point Distances:
Modified Course (Laps 1-8): 3.85km and 4.10km
Standard Course (Lap 9-?): 2.6km and 4.10km

Course markings 

Course is marked using reusable reflective strips.

For both the standard and modified courses, the turnaround points are at minor trail forks at an interpretive sign and witches hats.

In the corral

Corral location: Under the large undercover awning of the Exhibition Pavilion, on the outside bitumen driveway and surrounding grass area.

The corral will feature a large LED race clock, music and a finish arch.

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

Each lap begins with 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 

At bib collection, you collect a sticker with your bib number and a sticker with your name to place on a tally board.

At the end of each lap, head to your name on the tally board and place the unique sticker for the completed lap.

Live Results: Updated from Lap 10.

What’s nearby?

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

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
• Classic Crust Pizza
• 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 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.

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

Special engraved Coffs Backyard Ultra event glass for those runners who complete 15 laps (100.5km) or more.

Random Draw Prizes (Laps 1-10)

Thanks to Run the World and Stephen Parker, 10 x random draw prizes will be awarded every lap.

A secret random lap time is select (unknown to all runners).

The runner who finishes closest to that time on that lap wins.

Laps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: There is No Finish – The Backyard Ultra Story

Laps 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: Run the World merch packs (Hoodie, Buff & Trucker Cap)

Honour Roll

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

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

Mandatory Gear

• Coffs Trail Runners Race Bib: Bring your own if you have one or one will be provided at the event. The Race Bib must be worn on your front at all times during laps.
• Mobile Phone: Required during night laps (5:00pm-6:00am)
• Headtorch: Required during night laps (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, water, including a table and esky
• Chair and shelter (if setting up outside)
• 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.)

Course Description

After leaving the corral, runners head straight along 100 metres of bitumen (4 metres wide) until they reach the junction with Coffs Creek Walkway.

Coffs Creek Walkway features a mix of shaded gravel paths and wide boardwalks (2 metres wide).

Runners turn right and follow a wide gravel pathway (4 metres wide) through the Coffs Harbour Showground for 300 metres, then turnright again towards the main arena.

Next, runners follow the wide bitumen road (4 metres wide) around the main arena for 500 metres in a clockwise direction. After that, they turn left, then left again back onto the gravel pathway, heading towards the junction with Coffs Creek Walkway.

This completes the wide 1.4km wide loop for the modified course. Runners then follow Coffs Creek Walkway out to the turnaround point.

On returning to the Coffs Harbour Showground, runners turn right and head directly back to the corral.

Lap surface

• 80% shaded flat gravel path (5.3km)
• 10% wide boardwalks (700 metres)
• 10% bitumen (700 metres)

Total ascent per lap: 20 metres

Total descent per lap: 20 metres

Course Description (Laps 9+)

After leaving the corral, runners head straight along 100 metres of bitumen (4 metres wide) until they reach the junction with Coffs Creek Walkway.

Coffs Creek Walkway features shaded gravel paths and wide boardwalks (2 metres wide).

Runners turn left and follow Coffs Creek Walkway out to the turnaround point.

Runners then retrace their steps back the same way to return to the corral.

Lap surface

• 82% shaded flat gravel path (5.4km)
• 15% wide boardwalks (1km)
• 3% bitumen (200 metres)

Total ascent per lap: 20 metres

Total descent per lap: 20 metres

What are the rules?

All official backyard ultra rules apply. Please read the rules before the event.

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

How are you going to reduce congestion on the course with over 500 runners?

First 8 laps: We use a modified course – a ~4m wide path for 1.4km, then it is ~2m wide along Coffs Creek Walkway.

Lap 9 onwards: We revert to the standard course.

Runners must stick to the left at all times on the Coffs Creek Walkway.

Can I transfer my entry to another runner? What if I need to withdraw?

Transfer to another runner: Allowed up to 1 June 2025. Email admin@coffstrailrunners.com with the new runner’s name and email.

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

If you need to withdraw, contact admin@coffstrailrunners.com

No refunds on donations or deferrals to next year’s event.

What is the minimum age?

No minimum age. Under 10 years must run with an adult.

Can I camp or set up a caravan, camper trailer or campervan? Can I set up a 3m x 3m marquee or similar?

Yes. Camping in tents, swags, caravans, camper trailers or campervans are allowed free of charge from 3:00pm Friday and throughout the event.

You don’t need to register for camping.

You will have full access to the Exhibition Pavilion and hot showers before and during the event.

You can set up a marquee outside or inside the Exhibition Pavilion. Both areas are next to the corral.

What about spectators or support crew?

Support crew can assist runners only before the start of each lap.

Spectators are encouraged within Coffs Harbour Showground but not allowed on the Coffs Creek Walkway.

Assistance during the lap, including pacing from non-competitive runners, will result in disqualification.

Can I use hiking poles, headphones or a pram?

Hiking poles are not allowed as per the official Backyard Ultra rules.

Headphones are allowed but they must allow you to 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.

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:

To be determined in 2025

To be determined in 2025

To be determined in 2025

To be determined in 2025

4 laps (26.8km)

Non-continuous laps: Briana Rooney (4 laps), Chi Crowe (4 laps) Cheryl Lane (4 laps), Jennifer Williams (4 laps), Elizabeth Lynch (4 laps), Russell Crane (5 laps), Conrad Martin (5 laps), Dean Caton (6 laps), Harry Musgrave (6 laps), Lilli Smyth (7 laps), Fiona Kealy (7 laps)

4 laps: John Mawhinney, 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 laps: Annabelle Swainston, Alex Paton, 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 laps: Kerry Westwood, Janie Mahoney, Rob Gale, Corinne Stevenson, 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 laps: Maurice Gregory, Sonia Weiss, Nathan Howe, Malcolm Conway, Matt Newhouse, Sarah Morgan

8 laps (53.6km)

Non-continuous laps: Matt Bell (10 laps)

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

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

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

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

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

15 laps (100.6km)

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

16 laps: Thomas Doyle, Luke Rombi

17 laps: James Dowzard

18 laps: Jenny Friend (Female Assist), Brian Knowles

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

24 laps (160km)

25 laps: Jason Gorham (Male Assist)

26 laps: Jonathan Ash (Last Male Standing)