the 65km course

Walyunga stands for ‘happy place’ so what a great place to start! As the sun rises over Boongarup Pool the runners will start their journey on the Pilgrim single track along the river banks of the Avon river, heading down stream. They will then face a steep incline up to the ridge line of Mt Mambup with the Perth city in view and the beautiful Avon Valley behind them. 

The descent is on a mountain bike track, which does get technical at points so take your time. It won't be long before your reach the river again and re-join the Pilgrim Trail for a nice flat, fast and technical section to the Bells Rapids bridge, which you cross and make you way over to the Orlov Bridal Trail Tunnel. 

From here it is a reasonable climb and then a drop into the valley where you meander up along a creek that takes you to the breath taking Bells Falls. 

Please note the fire trail (easement) below Avon Ridge park goes through private property. Please do not run through their private properties, the course goes down into the valley opposite the park and around Avon Ridge Estate.

Out of the aid station you will commence a decent down into the valley along the creek. The course then turns right to run along a narrow plateau single trail that gives you a beautiful view of the Walyunga valley. You will intersect a gravel track which takes you further down into the valley. You then take a sharp right hand turn, for a steep gravel track ascent that goes over the ridge to a meandering steep descent. Once you reach another gravel track that is parallel to Wooroloo Brook Creek turn right. This path leads to a small water crossing, the Wooroloo Brook Creek Ford. From here you then face a long steep ascent through some beautiful Wandoo Forrest and granite outcrops.  

At the top of the challenging climb, you veer left to follow the ridge line that looks over the Avon River and, in the distance, the grassy green slopes of Shady Hills Estate. The track joins on to the Survey Heritage Trail heading up towards Ewing Road. A sharp left turn just before the public road places you on a fire trail that takes you out to the monument cairn marking a survey point by John Forrest from the 1870’s. This gives an amazing view of the valley up towards Toodyay and back to where you started at Walyunga National Park.   

Here you are at the perimeter of Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary, which is Noongar for ‘stopping place’. There is a shed and toilet block there that will be the support aid station.  

Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary is a single trail heaven! The Numbat track takes you along the undulating valley ridge until you branch off on to the Quenda Trail. These single trails feature small creeks, man made platforms and a monument over another survey marker. There are quite a few steps in this section, so it is a good idea to include some in your training. 

The far east aspect of the Quenda Trail intersects with an access track which we will use to direct you to the Nissen Hut on the Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary border near Copley-Dale Rd.

Once you pass through the Nissen Hut you are then greeted by a steep descent into another valley with a small creek crossing followed by an incline before making a final descent down to the fire trail (not the ARC Infrastructure Road) that is parallel to the train line. You then follow the boundary track up to the ‘Stronghills’ Private Property.  After the campsite there is a small creek.  After the campsite there is a small creek and a short distance later you enter the beautiful Avon Valley National Park and continue to run along the undulating access road. At approximately 14km into this leg you will encounter a goat trail through some bushland that involves a scramble up an incline and fairly technical decent. On the other side there is a short section of fire trail again until a right-hand turn which, takes you to the secluded Valley Campground. Here you have the opportunity to refuel or tag in your team mate.

The final leg continues on the undulating access trail until the right hand turn for Quarry Rd. It is here you head up towards the highest point of the Transcend Ultra at 296m. Quarry Rd intercepts South Break Access Road which takes you to the boundary of the Avon Valley National Park. From here you make your way through three private Toodyay properties, which offer a mix of paddock and single trail running. Relay runners can meet their team members at the bottom of the final hill where there will be an opportunity for you all to cross the finish line together. 

At the finish line all competitors will be greeted by their supporters and fellow competitors for rising up and going beyond, transcending the Avon Valley on foot in one day! Competitors have reached the Duidgee region which stands for the ‘land of plenty’, here they will have the opportunity to replenish and unwind. Upon finishing, competitors will have the opportunity to give back to the land and plant a native tree in the region to help ensure there is beautiful environment for many generations to experience in years to come.          

At the finish line we have entertainment, food and drink vans and we will provide as much shelter as feasibly possible.