A whip-crack, a gorge, and 220 kilometres of reckoning
Before first light on Friday 16 May the Lerderderg River whispers through a slate-black gorge. A lone stockman raises a bull-whip. The crack ricochets off sandstone and the seventh running of Down Under 135 surges into darkness. Head-torches scatter down the river bend like fireflies, and every runner knows the next three days will redefine what the words hard and possible mean.
This is no ordinary ultramarathon. With 135 miles (220 km), 14 000 m of vert, 55 hours to finish and a lifetime of stories to collect, Down Under 135 offers Australia’s ultra community an unfiltered shot of wilderness, grit and genuine self-discovery.
Down Under 135 Quick-scan facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance / Vert | 220 km • 14 000 m + • single-stage out-and-back |
| Cut-off | 55 h (Friday 06:00 → Sunday 13:00 approx.) |
| Start / Finish 2025 | Mackenzie’s Flat Picnic Area, Darley, VIC (course reversed back to original direction) |
| Crew hubs | 11 fully staffed checkpoints + DU Headquarters at Blackwood |
| Entry fee | AUD 600 (not-for-profit, covers permits, medical, tracking, tee, buff, sticker, finishers’ prize, stocked hubs) |
| Qualifying window | Proof of ultra experience accepted until 1 May 2025 |
| Refund schedule | 100 % → 75 % → 50 % → 25 % → nil (see timeline below) |
| Finisher rate (avg.) | ~18 % over six editions — Australia’s toughest finish line |
Why this is the Southern Hemisphere’s benchmark suffer-fest
- Authentic extremity – designed by five veteran mates who wanted an Aussie counterpart to Barkley, Tahoe 200 and Hardrock.
- Ever-changing course – route tweaks yearly; 2025 returns to the “Lerdy-first” original, starting down-river and climbing into Blackwood. No stale GPX files here.
- Whip-start folklore – the ceremonious stock-whip crack is now iconic in Australian trail culture.
- Community saga – a three-day festival for runners, crews, pacers, medics and volunteers who swap war-stories around checkpoint camp-fires.
- Hall-of-Fame legends – finish and your name joins a list where some years 97 % of starters timed out.
- Cost-price ethos – not-for-profit fee barely covering permits, medical, and 55 hours of aid.
Down Under 135 Course deep-dive — kilometre-by-kilometre fight-song
| Segment | Km | Vert + / − | Terrain | Mindset cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie’s Flat → Lerderderg Gorge | 0–18 | +900 / −200 | Narrow riverside single-track; rock-hopping fords | “Settle in. This is the easy part.” |
| East-West Trail to Ah Kyes | 18–45 | +1 600 / −800 | Stair-steep climbs, leaf-litter descents | Hiking poles earn their keep. |
| Mt Blackwood ascent | 45–55 | +800 / −150 | Switch-backs, granite slabs | First skyline, sunrise reward. |
| Blackwood aid-hub | 55 | — | Civilisation: warm soup, crew hugs | Reset, repack, obey the clock. |
| Outskirts gold-country | 55–94 | +1 400 / −1 500 | Fireroad lull then savage gully cuts | “Don’t bank time—bank energy.” |
| Turn-around springs | 110 | — | Mineral Springs meadow | Halfway trophy photo—still 110 km home. |
| Return leg | 110–220 | +7 300 / −7 300 (cumulative) | Everything again, but at night with fatigue | Grit > glycogen. |
Total tallies: 220 km • 14 000 m + • 11 crew hubs • SPOT Live-Tracking pinging every 5 min.
How the schedule unfolds (all AEST)
| Day | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 15 May | 13:00–18:00 | Mandatory check-in & tracker pickup — Border Inn, Bacchus Marsh |
| Fri 16 May | 05:30 | Final gear weigh-in, whip demonstration |
| 06:00 | RACE START — Mackenzie’s Flat (bull-whip crack!) | |
| 18:00 | Pacers allowed to join (approx. 90 km mark) | |
| Sat 17 May | On-going | Checkpoints, live splits, sunrise #2 |
| Sun 18 May | 13:00 | 55-hour cut-off bell & finish-line BBQ |
| 14:30 | Finisher & volunteer ceremony, story-swaps | |
| 15:00 | Course closes, legends limp to Border Inn for post-mortems |
Qualification — earn your bib
| Requirement | Acceptable evidence |
|---|---|
| At least one 100-km trail finish or 12-h track 100-km within the last 30 months | Official result link or certificate |
| Demonstrated night navigation | Finisher of any race that includes min. 8 h darkness or signed night-hike log |
| Safety gear proficiency | Photo proof of mandatory kit & emergency bivvy practice |
| Medical clearance | GP or sports-doc letter within 6 months of race |
Submit docs during registration or anytime before 1 May 2025. The committee vets every file—trust them, they’ve DNF’d enough ultras to know bravado from readiness.
Crew, pacers & hubs — your mobile lifeline
- Crew recommended: 2 people ideal (driver + spare / pacer). Fatigue checks at hubs.
- Solo allowed: Drop-bag service to all 11 hubs.
- Pacer rules: Join after 90 km, one pacer at a time, must carry mandatory safety kit.
- Hub etiquette: No loud music, respect National-Park quiet hours, leave no trace.
| Hub # | Approx. km* | Crew access | Drop-bag | Hot food & drink | Sleep space / amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 – Mackenzie’s Flat (start/finish) | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Coffee, breakfast rolls (Fri) / BBQ (Sun) | Picnic shelters, toilets |
| 1 | 18 – Lerderderg Gorge footbridge | ❌ foot only | ❌ | Broth, water, cola | Riverbank bivvy spots |
| 2 | 34 – Ah Kyes Track car park | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Soup, toasties, electrolyte | Crash mats, tarp shade |
| 3 | 55 – Blackwood HQ / Mineral Springs | ✅ sealed road | ✅ | Full kitchen: pasta, soup, coffee | Heated marquee, medical |
| 4 | 74 – Whisky Creek saddle | ❌ foot only | ❌ | Miso, bananas, lollies | Small tent, no crew |
| 5 | 94 – Yankee Road gate | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Potato wedges, cola | Pacer join-point, toilets |
| 6 | 110 – Turn-around hub (TBA) | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Hot soup, rice, ginger beer | Bonfire zone, cots |
| 7 | 128 – Yankee Road (return) | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Toasted sandwiches, coffee | Crew nap zone |
| 8 | 146 – Whisky Creek (return) | ❌ foot only | ❌ | Instant noodles, coke | Small shelter, no crew |
| 9 | 166 – Blackwood HQ (return) | ✅ sealed road | ✅ | Hot breakfast menu (Sat. dawn) | Heated marquee |
| 10 | 202 – Ah Kyes (return) | ✅ 2 WD | ✅ | Coffee, porridge | Crash mats |
| 11 | 220 – Mackenzie’s Flat (finish) | ✅ 2 WD | — | Finish-line BBQ, beer, soup | Picnic area, first-aid |
*Distances are rounded to the nearest kilometre; expect ±1–2 km variance once the 2025 route is finalised.
Key take-aways for Down Under 135 crews
- Vehicle strategy: Only hubs 1, 4 & 8 are foot-access; everything else is reachable in a normal car.
- Sleep rotation: Blackwood HQ (55 km & 166 km) plus Yankee Road hubs are the best spots to grab solid rest.
- Drop-bags: Plan for temps between 3 °C (pre-dawn) and 18 °C (mid-afternoon). Pack lights, socks, spare batteries, real food.
- Pacers: Can join from Hub 5 (94 km) onwards; must carry mandatory night kit.
- Water capacity: Leave foot-only segments (Hubs 1→2 and 4→5 / 8→9) with 2+ L—those sections bite.
Down Under 135 Mandatory kit (spot-checked on course)
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Safety | PLB or SPOT tracker (provided), whistle, space blanket, compression bandage |
| Lighting | 2 head-torches + spare batteries (sunset ⇔ sunrise gap is ~11 h) |
| Fluids | ≥ 2 L capacity leaving any hub; ≥ 3 L capacity for Mt Blackwood segment |
| Nutrition | 1 000 cal emergency reserve |
| Navigation | Map + compass or course-loaded watch (GPX released race-eve) |
| Clothing | Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, thermal base-layer, beanie, gloves |
| Extras | Cup (cupless race), reflective vest for pacers after dusk |
Miss an item in a random check → instant DQ (no appeals).
Training blueprint — nine key sessions to survive Down Under 135
- Back-to-back 7-h hikes (Sat / Sun) — leg durability > speed.
- Night nav fartlek — 3 h technical trail, focusing on foot placement by head-torch only.
- 1 000-m vert repeats — find the steepest hill; five ascents equal Mt Blackwood.
- 30-minute micro-naps — teach your brain to reboot on hub camp-chairs.
- Fast-pack gear drill — practise stripping wet jacket, swapping batteries, refilling flasks in < 3 min.
- Heat management — midday long run on exposed ridgeline; simulate unshaded gorge.
- Core + posterior chain — deadlifts, single-leg RDLs, weighted step-ups.
- Stomach training — graze on broth, cola, chips, ginger beer at walk pace.
- Mental durables — 4 h treadmill at 15 % gradient watching nothing but blank wall.
Down Under 135 Hall of Fame — proof that finishers exist
| Year | Starters | Finishers | Fastest time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 | 7 (19 %) | Grant Ward 48 : 15 |
| 2023 | 29 | 5 (17 %) | Tom Dade 52 : 17 |
| 2022 | 30 | 1 (3 %) | Tom Dade 53 : 07 |
| 2021 | 34 | 2 (6 %) | Nigel Hill 52 : 36 |
| 2019 | 31 | 9 (29 %) | Michael Stuart 44 : 28 |
| 2018 | 26 | 5 (19 %) | David Giles 49 : 05 |
| 2017* | 17 | 5 (26 %) | Salton & Muller 39 : 34 |
*2017 distance 202 km for safety, but it was still hideous.
Finishers’ names are laser-etched onto the DU135 Hall-of-Fame board displayed at Border Inn all year.
Entry timeline & refund ladder
| Date checkpoint | Refund % | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up → 10 Nov 2024 | 100 % | minus booking fee |
| 11 Nov → 31 Dec 2024 | 75 % | |
| 1 Jan → 1 Feb 2025 | 50 % | |
| 2 Feb → 1 Mar 2025 | 25 % | |
| 2 Mar 2025 onwards | 0 % | Start-line charity pot if you can’t race |
No transfers. No roll-overs. Tough love, true to DU ethos.
Volunteer & medical crew — the beating heart
- Endurance Medical Services staff every hub.
- Volunteer sweeps hike final sections collecting tape and checking stragglers.
- All volunteers receive DU buff, tee and post-race dinner with athletes. Sign up early because spots vanish faster than gels at Mt Blackwood.
FAQs in two breaths
- Can I run without crew? Yes — drop bags to every hub.
- GPS allowed? Sure, but GPX file lands in your inbox Thursday 17 May, 20:00.
- Wildlife? Kangaroos, wombats, maybe a sleepy python; no bears, no excuses.
- Are pacers mandatory? Optional but 90 % of finishers used one.
- DNF logistics? Shuttles sweep the course every four hours. You’ll ride out with UHF-radio-packing volunteers and existential reflection.
Your call to arms
The Down Under 135 isn’t about medals or Instagram reels (though the gorge sunrise is pretty ‘gram-worthy). It’s about toeing a line where failure is statistically probable yet finishing changes your DNA forever. If you crave an honest confrontation with your limits—and a community that’ll hand you broth, jokes and brutal honesty at 4 a.m.—then May’s whip-crack waits.
- Register from 2 June 2024, 16:00 AEST
- Gather a crew (or trust the drop-bag gods)
- Train like vert is life
- And on 16 May 2025 discover whether your spirit matches the Lerdy’s gorge.
Down Under 135 — “Gnarly, technical, aggressive vert, beautiful… enough said.”
Find out more here.