Friday 6th June 2025 – optional

3:00pm to 5:00pm- Optional bib collection and gear/marquee set up at Coffs Harbour Showground

From 3:00pm – Free camping at Coffs Harbour Showground. Tents, swags, gazebos, cars, campervans or caravans are welcome. See the ‘At the event’ section for details.

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 their 24th lap (100 mile)

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

Event Finishes – ???

2026 Date: Saturday 6 June 2026

2027 Date: Saturday 12 June 2027

Event Guide

The 2025 Coffs Backyard Ultra Event Guide will be emailed to registered runners and available on our website at least one week before the event.

2024 Coffs Backyard Ultra Event Guide (for reference purposes only)

Mud Map of the Venue

Coffs Backyard Ultra Mud Map 

The Facilities

Coffs Backyard Ultra takes place at the Exhibition Pavilion at Coffs Harbour Showground, featuring:

• A very large undercover space for gear/marquee set ups
• Multiple toilet blocks, inside and outside
• Kitchen with microwave and hot water urn
• Charging stations for phones, watches and headtorches
• Phone reception throughout the course
• A ‘sleeping only’ room

Free hot showers are available before and during the event and located 100 metres away from the Exhibition Pavilion.

Staying at Coffs Harbour Showground

Parking area adjacent to the corral and Exhibition Pavilion: This is 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 and Pablo’s Kitchen for food available (Bacon & Egg Rolls and Veggie options)

Saturday lunch: OMG Decadent Donuts (vegan) and Pablo’s Kitchen (Veggie and Meat Nachos and Veggie and Meat Burgers) 

Ergofix Physiotherapy will be also tending to any injuries or niggles

On Sunday 8th June at 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 degrees)
• Noodles (at night)
• Soup (at night)

A cupless, unmanned water point will be located under Hogbin Drive bridge for runners to use during the lap.

For the modified course for the first 8 laps, the water point is located 3.85km and 4.10km into the lap.

For the standard course for lap 9 and onwards, the water point is located 2.6km and 4.10km into the lap.

Course markings & turnaround points

Course is marked using reusable reflective strips, with turnaround points also marked with witches hats.

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

In the corral

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

The corral is located partly under the large undercover awning of the Exhibition Pavilion and partly on the bitumen driveway and surrounding grass area.

Each lap begins with:

• 3 minute whistle
• 2 minute whistle
• 1 minute whistle
• A 10 second countdown in the corral 

When you register you collect a sticker with your bib number and sticker with your name to place on a tally board.

At the end of each lap, head to the tally boards, where you will place a sticker for each lap completed.

Live Results via Google Sheets will be available from 10 laps on.

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

What is nearby?

Reflections Holiday Park offers a range of accommodation including cabins, camping and powered sites, directly next to Coffs Harbour Showground

The Bailey Centre is located directly opposite Coffs Harbour Showground across the Pacific Highway and 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 is located 1km away.

Event Prizes

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

As the event is a Bronze Ticket Event, the last one standing overall will receive an automatic entry into a Silver Ticket Event.

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

Special prize for those runners that complete 15 laps (100.5km) or more.

Random Draw Prizes

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

For each of the 10 laps, a secret random lap time is select (unknown to all runners).

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

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 website Honour Roll 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: You must carry a mobile phone during night laps, between 5:00pm-6:00am.
• Headtorch: You must carry a headtorch during night laps, between 5:00pm-6:00am.
• Cup or flask: Coffs Backyard Ultra is a cupless event. Bring your own cup or flask for water, electrolytes, soup or noodles.

Recommended Gear

• Spare batteries for headtorch
• Backup headtorch with spare batteries
• Charging cables. There will be dedicated charging stations inside.
• Personal nutrition and water, including a table and esky. In addition to aid station supplies, tables and fridges are available inside the Exhibition Pavilion.
• Chair and shelter if setting up outside
• A waterproof rain jacket
• Hats or buffs or beanies
• Spare running and non-running clothes, such as socks, shirts, shorts, and shoes
• Towels, including for free on-site hot shower 
• Personal first aid kit, such as space blanket, blister prevention, sunscreen, lube and lip balm

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.

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

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

For the first 8 laps, we will use a modified course. The course will be a wide path (4 metres wide) for 1.4km until reaching the Coffs Creek Walkway (2 metres wide).

For lap 9 and onwards, we will revert to the standard course.

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

Is the event sold out? How do I get an entry? 

The event sold out in December 2024 and no regular entries are available.

To get an entry, please contact admin@coffstrailrunners.com.

If an entry becomes available due to withdrawals, we will notify you and provide details on how to transfer into the event.

Can I transfer my entry to another runner?

Transfers are only available up to 21 May 2025.

To transfer your entry, the runner who holds the entry must email admin@coffstrailrunners.com with the new runner’s name, email and confirmation of the transfer.

We do not allow reselling or transferring entries via the Coffs Backyard Ultra Facebook Group.

What if I need to withdraw? Can I get a refund? 

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

No refunds on donations.

No entries can be deferred.

Can I camp or set up a caravan, camper trailer or campervan? 

Yes. Camping in tents, swags, caravans, camper trailers or campervans are allowed free of charge at Coffs Harbour Showground 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.

Can I set up a 3m x 3m marquee or similar?

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

Can I use hiking poles?

No. Hiking poles are not allowed as per the official Backyard Ultra rules.

What about spectators or support crew?

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

Assistance during the lap, including pacing from non-competitive runners, will result in disqualification as per the official Backyard Ultra rules.

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

Can I use headphones?

Headphones are allowed but they must allow you to hear your surroundings (e.g. Shokz).

No speaker systems or playing music out loud during laps.

What is the minimum age?

There is no minimum age but children under 10 years must run with an adult.

Can I bring a pram?

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 (100.3km)

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)