An ancient forest awakens to your footfall — run where Gondwana still breathes
Before the sun reaches the high plateau of Gibraltar Range National Park, the rainforest is a chorus of lyrebirds and soft mist. Granite tors glow amber, and water that has flowed unchanged for millennia slips beneath sassafras leaves. At Mulligans Campground, runners tighten laces in dawn hush, ready to trace paths first trodden by the Gondwanan giants whose descendants still shade these gullies.
Welcome to the Washpool World Heritage Trails, a weekend of wild-forest racing curated by Coffs Trail Runners. Three distances—50 km Ultra, 25 km Adventure, 9 km Forest Dash—deliver everything from ITRA points to family-friendly fun. Every step supports a race that is low-impact, Trail-Sisters-approved, and aligned with the ITRA Green Charter.
Event snapshot
| Distance | Date & Start | Entry Fee | Cut-off | Ascent / Descent | ITRA | Points of note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 km Ultra | Sat 21 Mar 08:00 | $50 | 10 h | +1 250 m / −1 250 m | 2 pts | Six Foot Track qualifier; anti-clockwise loop of the Gibraltar–Washpool WH Walk |
| 25 km Adventure | Sun 22 Mar 08:00 | $25 | 5 h | +450 m / −450 m | 1 pt | Mixed creek single-track & rainforest boardwalks; clockwise loop |
| 9 km Forest Dash | Sun 22 Mar 08:15 | $15 | 2 h 15 m | +240 m / −240 m | – | No aid stations—pure, self-sufficient forest fun |
(All three courses start and finish at Mulligans Hut / Campground, NSW 2370.)
Why the Washpool World Heritage Trails should top your 2026 calendar
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Genuine World Heritage terrain – run beneath 200-million-year-old canopy listed on both UNESCO & Australia’s National Heritage schedules.
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Breathtaking diversity – granite outcrops, fern-walled creeks, eucalypt woodland and the famous Tree Fern Forest Walk, all in one loop.
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Accessible adventure – low-cost entry fees, free walk-in camping, spectator-friendly aid stations reachable in a 2 WD.
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Eco integrity – cupless checkpoints, waste-free policy, strict no-litter disqualification, Trail-Sisters inclusivity, Green-Charter compliance.
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Real rewards – instead of a generic medal, finishers score the coveted Washpool finisher’s hat and a glass trophy for podium athletes.
50 km Ultra – Gibraltar–Washpool Grand Loop
Storyline
At 08:00 Saturday the forest exhales cool breath as you stride away from Mulligans Hut. A swooping descent toward Coombadjha Creek sprays sunlight through vine tangles, then the famous granite ramparts rear above the tree line. By Boundary Falls (32.5 km) the air is spiced with eucalypt oil and the thunder of the cascade; climb away on single-track carved by wallabies and enter the fern-cathedral of Surveyors Creek. When the track spits you back onto Mulligans Drive at 43 km, the late-afternoon glow paints ghost gums gold, guiding you to a finish under banners and camp-stove aromas.
Key logistics
| Segment | Km | Elevation + / − | Aid & Crew | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start → Coombadjha CG | 0 – 14.2 | +380 / −500 | Full aid, crew access, toilets | 10:30 (2 h 30 m) |
| Coombadjha → Boundary Falls | 14.2 – 32.5 | +600 / −410 | Full aid, drop-bag, crew | 14:30 (6 h 30 m) |
| Boundary Falls → Mulligans Drive | 32.5 – 43.5 | +200 / −210 | Water + cola, crew | 16:30 (8 h 30 m) |
| Mulligans Drive → Finish | 43.5 – 50 | +70 / −130 | Finish-line feast | 18:00 (10 h) |
Mandatory gear (abridged): 1 L hydration (2 L if >23 °C), 250 cal emergency food, snake bandage, space blanket/bivvy, whistle, phone with Emergency Plus, soft cup. Weather-dependant extras (hooded rain jacket, beanie, extra water). Random gear checks = instant DQ.
Pacing goals: Six Foot Track qualifier = < 7 h 40 m; Gold rush time belts for sub-6 h male / sub-6 h 30 m female.
25 km Adventure – Creeks, Crags & Fern Forest
Storyline
Sunday dawn finds a softer hush after the Ultra exodus. From Mulligans Hut you skim the banks of Little Dandahra Creek, its pools mirror-calm under coachwood trunks. After a rolling climb you pivot onto Surveyors Creek Track, a narrow ribbon threading heath and granite. At the 15 km mark the chorus of frogs signals entry to the Tree Fern Forest Walk—a living tunnel of filigree fronds. The final bridge bounce over the creek delivers you onto campground grass, where finish-line cheers echo between moss-clad boulders.
Key logistics
| Aid | Km | Cut-off | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulligans Drive #1 | 7.0 | 09:15 (1 h 15 m) | Water, cola, Trail Brew |
| Mulligans Drive #2 | 13.1 | 10:30 (2 h 30 m) | Same site return pass |
| Finish | 25.0 | 13:00 (5 h) | Drop bags, cold creek dip! |
Mandatory gear mirrors the Ultra but with 1 L fluid minimum; no medals—collect your Washpool cap instead.
9 km Forest Dash – Short, sharp, sublime
Storyline
Perfect for juniors, hikers, and speedsters alike. The course loops through fern understorey, taps the foothills of granite tors, then descends on leaf-litter zig-zags back to camp. With +240 m vertical it isn’t a stroll, but every climb rewards with birdsong and glimpses of sun-dappled gullies older than civilisation.
No aid stations: carry your own flask; stash a picnic in your finish-line drop bag. Mandatory gear = phone + snake bandage only. Cut-off 11:30—enough for selfies at every moss-coated log.
Weekend programme (all at Mulligans Campground)
| Time | Sat 21 Mar 2026 | Sun 22 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Bib & gear check 50 km | Bib & gear check 25 km / 9 km |
| 07:50 | 50 km briefing | 25 km briefing |
| 08:00 | 50 km race start | 25 km race start |
| 08:05 | – | 9 km briefing |
| 08:15 | – | 9 km race start |
| 10:30 | 14.2 km cut-off | 13.1 km cut-off & 25 km podium |
| 14:30 | 32.5 km cut-off & Ultra podium | – |
| 16:00 | 43.5 km cut-off | – |
| 18:00 | Ultra course closes | – |
| 18:58 | Sunset over granite | – |
| 09:30 | – | 9 km podium |
| 11:30 | – | 9 km course closes |
| 13:00 | – | 25 km course closes |
Stay in the forest: parking, camping & accommodation
| Option | Distance to Start | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in sites, Mulligans CG | 0 m | Free (Fri & Sat) | No booking; flush toilets, cold showers, BBQs, swimming hole |
| Designated sites, Mulligans CG | 0 m | NPWS fee | 20 sites, book from 21 Sep 2025 |
| Bellbird CG | 30 min drive | NPWS fee | Washpool NP, 17 sites |
| Boundary Falls CG | 30 min drive | NPWS fee | Granite amphitheatre views |
| Glen Innes motels / caravan park | 1 h drive | Market rates | Hot showers & cafés for Monday recovery |
Parking is tight. Car-pool or stay on-site to guarantee a spot.
Green ethos & Trail Sisters pledge
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Cupless checkpoints—bring a collapsible cup.
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Sorted recycling & compost bins at camp.
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No single-use plastics at aid stations (cans > sachets).
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Menstrual products stocked at every staffed aid.
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Equal podiums, women-specific apparel sizing, deferral policy for pregnancy & postpartum.
Price tiers & registration
| Distance | Fee | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| 50 km Ultra – $50 | Finisher hat, ITRA points, digital cert, aid smorgasbord | |
| 25 km – $25 | Hat, ITRA point, digital cert | |
| 9 km – $15 | Hat, digital cert |
No hidden fees; upgrades pay the difference + $3 admin, wait-list transfers the same. No refunds; deferral to 2027 allowed until 9 Mar 2026.
Ready to claim your bib? email admin@coffstrailrunners.com or jump onto the Washpool entry portal—spots fill fast once the first rainforest photos hit social media.
Mandatory gear cheat-sheet
| Item | 50 km | 25 km | 9 km |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 L hydration (2 L if hot) | ✔️ | ✔️ | – |
| Emergency food 250 cal | ✔️ | – | – |
| Snake bandage | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Space blanket / bivvy | ✔️ | ✔️ | – |
| Whistle | ✔️ | ✔️ | – |
| Phone + Emergency Plus | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Soft cup | Recommended (cupless) | Recommended | Recommended |
Random checks. Missing gear = disqualification.
Your call to the wild
Some races promise views. Washpool World Heritage Trails promises time-travel: a two-day ticket into Gondwana’s untouched pages, where every granite monolith and fern-draped creek has whispered the same story for 200 million years. Choose 50 km, 25 km or 9 km, pack light, tread softly, and earn the finisher’s hat that says you answered the forest’s call.
↠ Register now and run the rainforest in March 2026.