65km Ultra - Sunday 25th of june 2023- 6:30AM Start

A person's need to run quickly over both short and long distances is as old as humankind. To be fast helped us to survive, to catch an animal for food, to escape from danger and natural catastrophes, to be successful in war or, as in the case of the first marathon, to take messages. And where did this hunter, warrior, messenger live? Probably somewhere in the hilly countryside. There were no roads, no tunnels to avoid the mountains, no bridges to cross rivers.  They had to run over hills, over mountains, through forests, across rivers as fast as they could.  They were not running for medals, or money, or trophies or glory, it was running to survive! Today this need is no longer necessary, but it is bred into us, a desire to run in nature and over challenging landscapes.

The 65km Ultra is the full experience of the Avon Valley, traversing its whole entirety. The course takes you from the culturaly rich Whadjuk land Walyunga National Park, up to Mt Mambup in Jumbuck Regional Park, down into Bells Rapids and up Bells Falls, through the Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary and Avon Valley National Park until you reach your finishing destination in Ballardong land, Cobbler Pool near Toodyay. 

This is a very challenging course with approximately 2,700m of elevation and plenty of technical surfaces. The beauty and sense of adventure will take the edge off the pain and physical exhaustion. We provide aid stations approximately every 12-16km to provide plenty of opportunity to refuel. We also allow ~13 min/km for you to finish the course (14 hours). All participants must keep ahead of aid station cut off times and be at the finish line before 8:30pm on the 25th of June.   

Please note that ~50% of this course is on private land and for that reason can not be completed for training in the lead up or post the event. So you can have the opportunity to complete this course we have had extensive negotiations with the following list plus a number of other relevant organisations. If you ignore this message you will jeopardise our ability to host this event in future years, stopping people from achieving the same experience we want you to have.

Avon Ridge Easement - Use the single trail below the easement. 

Arc Infrastructure - No train line should be crossed in the Avon Valley. We have special permissions to use the underpass at Orlov Tunnel.

Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary - You can pay to visit this sanctuary between, May and November for $10 per person.  You must stay to designated walking tracks when you attend. Please note they have cameras throughout the sanctuary.

Stronghills Property - There is a caretaker on site and cameras throughout the property. 

Boral - This is a mining operation and there is strictly no access permitted.

3 Private Lot Owners in Toodyay - They have all requested that you respect their private land ownership. They do not want any incidents on their land, damage done to fences or stock - person interaction.

You are welcome to train at the following locations providing there are no park closures in place:

Walyunga National Park 

Jumbuck Regional Park 

Avon Valley National Park