Washpool World Heritage Trails
When?
The 13th Washpool World Heritage Trails will be held on:
Sunday 26th March 2023
For 2023, this event will be organised by Coffs Trail Runners and includes:
Race Overview
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.
This event is listed and insured by AURA and supported by National Parks & Wildlife Service
Race Schedule
Saturday 25th March 2023
16:00 to 18:00 – optional pre-race bib collection, social catchup and chit-chat, see the course maps, ask questions of past finishers and Race Director at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area.
Sunday 26th March 2023
06:30 – Registration for all distances opens at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area
06:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 50km
07:00 – Start of 50km at Mulligans Hut
07:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 25km
08:00 – Start of 25km at Mulligans Hut
08:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 9km
09:00 – Start of 9km at Mulligans Hut
Presentations occur immediately after the top 3 men and women finish in each distance.
When you arrive, you need to pay National Park day use fees at the National Park information stands. These are $8.00 for 24 hours per vehicle and cash only. Please bring the correct change as we will not have cash.
Getting There & Accommodation
All events start at the Mulligans Hut Picnic Area in the Gibraltar Range National Park off the Gwydir Highway approximately 1.5 hours west of Grafton or 1 hour east of Glen Innes.
Where possible, runners are requested to carpool as parking is limited at Mulligans Hut.
Camping is located at:
– 20 Designated sites Mulligans Hut Camping Ground (recommended) in Gibraltar Range National Park. This is a short walk the start line and has kitchen, shower and toilet facilities, a great swimming hole, picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Book through NPWS website.
– 20 Undesignated sites in the Group Camping Area at Mulligans Hut (recommended) in Gibraltar Range National Park. This is at the finish line and has kitchen, shower and toilet facilities, a great swimming hole picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Book undesignated sites at Group Camping Area when you register for the event.
– 17 Designated sites at Bellbird Campground in Washpool National Park (30 minute drive to start) with toilets, picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Book through NPWS website.
– 3 Designated sites at Coombadjha Campground in Washpool National Park (30 minute drive to start) with toilets, picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Book through NPWS website.
– 8 Designated sites at Boundary Falls Campground in Gibraltar Range National Park (30 minute drive to start) with toilets, picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Book through NPWS website.
Alternate accommodation can be found at Glen Innes or the Mann River Caravan Park.
Washpool x Tarkine Running
For the 2023 event, we welcome Tarkine Running on board as a major sponsor.
The values of Tarkine Running aligns strongly with the Washpool World Heritage Trails and we are proud to have them on board as a sponsor.
Prizes for 2023 Washpool World Heritage Trails thanks to Tarkine Running:
Random Draw Prizes:
– 50km: 4 x $200 Tarkine Running voucher random draw prize (4 separate random draws, only one entrant in random draw per runner)
– 25km: 4 x $175 Tarkine Running voucher random draw prize (4 separate random draws, only one entrant in random draw per runner)
– 9km: 4 x $150 Tarkine Running voucher random draw prize (4 separate random draws, only one entrant in random draw per runner)
To enter the random draw, you must enter Washpool World Heritage Trails and be at the start line of each race when the random draw is drawn.
Winner Prizes:
– 1st Place 50km men $200 Tarkine Running voucher
– 1st Place 50km women $200 Tarkine Running voucher
– 1st Place 25km men $175 Tarkine Running voucher
– 1st Place 25km women $175 Tarkine Running voucher
– 1st Place 9km men $150 Tarkine Running voucher
– 1st Place 9km women $150 Tarkine Running voucher
2nd and 3rd place prizes:
– For all distances both men and women will receive a Washpool World Heritage Trails shirt
Shirts & Singlets
We have Washpool World Heritage Trails Shirts and Singlets available for purchase.
The material is QUOZ Coolmax (same as Coffs Trail Runners and Coffs Harbour Running Festival shirts) and is great for running.
Shirts and singlets cost $35 each and can be purchased when you enter the event.
We can post out shirts and singlets for an additional $10.
As of 27 January 2023, shirt and singlets orders are now closed.
We will have shirts and singlets available on the day of the event to try on and buy but there is no guarentee your size will be available.
50km Course
Course Description:
The 50km course starts at the historic Mulligans Hut and for the most part, proceeds anti-clockwise in a loop course following the remote Gibraltar-Washpool World Heritage Trail. Beginning in Gibraltar Range National Park, the 50km course starts by following the iconic Tree Fern Forest Walk and then crossing the Gwydir Highway into Washpool National Park.
After taking in the beautiful singletracks along Coombadjha Creek, the 50km then passing through a variety of landscapes along the Gibraltar-Washpool World Heritage Trail to loop back to the start.
Checkpoints & Water:
Checkpoint 1 – 9km (water, coke, lollies and food)
15km (water point only)
Checkpoint 2 – 35km (water, coke, lollies and food + access to a drop bag if desired)
44km (water point only)
One drop bag can be taken to Checkpoint 2 at 35km. Arranged on the day when you register at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area.
Cost & Refunds:
The 50km costs $50. In the event that you can no longer participate, we will offer you a full refund if you notify us prior to 20 March 2023 (one week from race day)
Prizes:
- Opportunity to win a random draw prize of $200 Tarkine Running voucher if you are entered and at the start line. 4 separate random draw of $200 value. Only one entrant in random draw per competitor.
- $200 Tarkine Running voucher to both men and women winners.
- Washpool World Heritage Trails shirt to 2nd and 3rd place men and women.
Schedule:
06:30 – Registration opens at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area
06:50 – Race briefing and random draw prize for the 50km Ultra
07:00 – Start 50km at Mulligans Hut
Mandatory gear:
Snake bandage
Two portions of food
Capacity to carry 1 litre of water
Charged phone with Capra app downloaded
Space blanket
Walking the whole course is not allowed.
Cut off CP2 at 35km: 6 hours or at 13:00
Total time to complete course: 9 hours
Total ascent: 1,400m
Printable map here
It is a mandatory for the 50km participants to have the CAPRA app downloaded on your mobile phone during the event.
Use your mobile phone to scan the QR Code for the 50km course.
25km Course
Course Description:
COURSE CHANGE FOR 2023: The western portion of the 25km course is now a loop instead of an out and back. It is approximately 1km shorter than the old course.
The 25km course starts at Mulligans Hut and follows the trail out along Little Dandahra Creek to Mulligans Drive. For 2023, runners will now cross straight at Mulligans Drive onto the newly upgraded Surveyors Creek Track. This commences the new loop in an anti-clockwise direction. Runners will run along Surveyors Creek Track and then connect onto the World Heritage Walk, pass the turnoff to Dandahra Crags and to Mulligans Drive.
Runners then run back on the same track they went out on that follows Little Dandahra Creek before turning right over a small bridge and completing the 9km course in a clockwise direction.
Water point:
6.6km
14km
Cost & Refund:
The 25km costs $25. In the event that you can no longer participate, we will offer you a full refund if you notify us prior to 20 March 2023 (one week from race day)
Prizes:
- Opportunity to win a random draw prize of $175 Tarkine Running voucher if entered and at the start line. 4 separate random draws of $175 value will be drawn at the start line. Only one entrant in random draw per competitor.
- 175 Tarkine Running voucher to both men and women winners.
- Washpool World Heritage Trails shirt to 2nd and 3rd place men and women.
Schedule:
06:30 – Registration opens at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area
07:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 25km
08:00 – Start 25km at Mulligans Hut
Mandatory gear:
- Snake bandage
One portion of food (such as a muesli bar)
Capacity to carry 1 litre of water
Charged phone with Capra app downloaded
Space blanket
Walkers allowed.
Total ascent: 470m
Total descent 470m
Printable map here
It is a mandatory for the 25km participants to have the CAPRA app downloaded on your mobile phone during the event.
Use your mobile phone to scan the QR Code for the 25km course.
9km Course
Course Description:
The 9km course is a looped course that starts at the historic Mulligans Hut and follows the iconic Tree Fern Forest Walk besides streams, across cascades, through ferny understorey and rainforest.
Cost & Refunds:
$10. In the event that you can no longer make the event, we will offer you a full refund if you notify us prior to 20 March 2023 (one week from race day)
Prizes:
- Opportunity to win a random draw prize of $150 Tarkine Running voucher if entered and at the start line. 4 separate random draw of $150 value will be drawn at the start line. Only one entrant in random draw per competitor.
- $150 Tarkine Running voucher to both men and women winners.
- Washpool World Heritage Trails shirt to 2nd and 3rd place men and women.
Mandatory gear:
- Snake Bandage
Charged phone with Capra app downloaded
Schedule:
06:30 – Registration opens at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area
08:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 9km race / family outing / walk
09:00 – Start 9km race / family outing / walk at Mulligans Hut
Walkers allowed.
Total ascent: 240m
Total descent 240m
Printable map here
It is a mandatory for the 9km participants to have the CAPRA app downloaded on your mobile phone during the event.
Use your mobile phone to scan the QR Code to the right for the 9km course for race day.
