Washpool World Heritage Trails

Enter here for 2023

As of 28/11/2022, this event has reached the cap of 150 runners and is now SOLD OUT.

Please contact admin@coffstrailrunners.com to go on the waitlist. Typically there is a 10% pull out rate between now and the event so if you are on the wait list, while it is not guaranteed, there is a high chance you will still be able to run.

2022 Results

2022 Race Report

2022 Photos

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

50km loop of the Gibraltar-Washpool World Heritage Walk

25km (new course for 2022)

9km loop of Fern Tree Forest

Registrations close Wednesday 22nd March 2023 at 5:00pm

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.

Listed and insured by AURA and supported by National Parks & Wildlife Service

General area map is here

Race Schedule

Saturday 25th March 2023

17:00 – optional pre-race bib collection, social catchup, 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 opens at the picnic shelter at Mulligans Hut Group Camping Area

06:50 – Race briefing and random draw prize for the 50km

07:00 – Start 50km at Mulligans Hut

07:50 – Race briefing at Mulligans Hut and random draw prize for the 25km

08:00 – Start 25km at Mulligans Hut

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

Presentations occur immediately after top 3 men and women finish in each distance.

When you arrive, you need to pay National Park day use fees. These are $8.00 for 24 hours per vehicle.

Please bring the correct change and pay as you enter at Parks’ information stands.

Entries for the event at capped at 150 and are likely to sell out. As of 26 November, only 15 spots remain.

A wait list will become available when entries sell out.

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.

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. As of 26 November, designated sites at Mulligans Hut Campground is SOLD OUT.

– 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. As of 26 November, the group camping area at Mulligans Hut is SOLD OUT.

– 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. As of 26 November 2022, there are plenty of spots left at Bellbird Campground.

– 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. As of 26 November 2022, there are spots left at Coombadjha Campground.

– 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. As of 26 November 2022, there are spots left at Boundary Falls Campground.

Alternate accommodation can be found at Glen Innes or the Mann River Caravan Park.

Washpool x Tarkine Running

For 2023, we welcome Tarkine Running on board as a major sponsor.

Tarkine Running is a new Australian owned, Australian made brand with a strong focus on eco-friendly, environmentally aware high performance shoes and apparel. . They donate 2% of every sale to the Bob Brown Foundation to help save the takanya/Tarkine Rainforest. They also recycle all shoes after use!

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 (3 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.

Shirt and singlets orders must be in by Wednesday 1st February 2023.

We can post out shirts and singlets for an additional $10.

We will also 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

The 50km course starts Mulligans Picnic Area in the Gibraltar Range National Park off Gwydir Highway and proceeds anti-clockwise round the remote World Heritage Trail to finish back at the start.

Checkpoints & Water:

Checkpoint 1 – 9km (water, coke, lollies and food)
15km (water point only)
Checkpoint 2 – 35km (water, coke, lollies and food)
44km (water point only)

One drop bag can be taken to Checkpoint 2 at 35km. Arranged on the day.

Costs: $50

Prizes: Opportunity to win a random draw prize of $200 Tarkine Running voucher if 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 .

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 offline navigation maps (e.g. maps.me, guru maps etc)
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

Total descent 1,400m

Strava route here

Route here

GPX file here

Google My Maps here

Downloadable map here

25km Course

*COURSE CHANGE FOR 2023*

The 25km course is now a loop. It is approximately 1km shorter than the old course.

It starts at Mulligans Picnic Area and goes out along Little Dandahra Creek. You will now cross straight at Mulligans Drive onto the newly upgraded Surveyors Creek Track. Runners will then run anticlockwise around the World Heritage Walk passed Dandahra Crags and back along Little surveyors creek before going clockwise around the 9km course back to the start.

Water point:

6.6km
14km

Cost: $25

Prizes: Opportunity to win a random draw prize of $175 Tarkine Running voucher if entered and at the start line. 4 separate random draw of $175 value. 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.

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 offline navigation maps (e.g. maps.me, guru maps etc)
Space blanket

Walkers allowed.

Total ascent: 470m

Total descent 470m

Strava route here

Route here

GPX file here

Google My Maps here

Downloadable map here

9km Course

The 9km course starts at Mulligans Picnic Area and goes besides streams, across cascades, through ferny understorey and rainforest back to the start in a loop.

Cost: $10

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. 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: