Event Overview

The Great Southern Stage Run is a 3 day trail running stage race along the Great Southern section of the popular Bibbulmun Track – starting at the Valley of the Giants at Walpole and finishing at Camp Quaranup on the Torndirrup Peninsula in Albany. 

3 DAY RACE: The 200km course is completed over 3 days with each day involving 58-74km of trail running between the designated start / finish points. Each day is divided into 4 different legs with distances varying between 10km and 26km with coordinated checkpoints and aid stations supporting runners along the way.

TEAMS OF 4: The event is primarily designed for relay teams with 2, 3 or 4 runners, with each team member completing 1 leg each day. Teammates support and encourage each other, travelling from one checkpoint to the next and generating an sense of camaraderie and unity as all runners share this exceptional experience together.

CAMARADERIE: Being a 3 day race, with coordinated social functions each night and a longer time frame to get to know one another, all runners from all teams will come together like soldiers doing battle – making new friends and life time memories together.

SHARED ACCOMMODATION: All teams are also encouraged to stay together overnight at the camping / group accommodation facilities at the finish line of day 2 and 3. This allows us to celebrate all finishers and add to the unifying, social environment for all runners.

Combine all this together – the awe-inspiring point to point course, the dramatic coastal landscape, the enthusiasm between team mates and the uplifting social environment at camp each night – and this will be a life changing event for all who toe the start line. We welcome you to be one of them.

“That was a dream run; the trails out there are just phenomenal and all I could think about was running that course again!” – Flying V’s, Winning Relay Team 2022

“This is a race that will never leave you. The scenery was out of this world, the vibe was super uplifting and the organisation was second to none” – Kevin Mathews, 2022 participant

How did the event come about?

In many ways The Great Southern Stage Run is an amalgamation of Rapid Ascent’s two most successful trail running events – the Run Larapinta Stage Race and the Margaret River Ultra Marathon.

It’s like Run Larapinta because:

  • They are both stage races, where runners line up to tackle the course together on consecutive days
  • Runners stay together, creating an incredible shared experience where all social barriers are broken and new friends are made
  • They both provide an incredible journey through a remote and rugged landscape

It is like the Margaret River Ultra Marathon because:

  • It is designed around teams, where runners work together to achieve a monumental goal
  • They are both very social events with a real celebration at the end of each day
  • They both explore WA’s spectacular coastal landscape and charismatic villages

Both the Run Larapinta and Margaret River Ultra events have sold out for the last 2 years and we expect the Great Southern Stage Run will as well.

The course (is exceptional)

The course traverses the most spectacular sections of the famed Bibbulmun Track running between Walpole and Albany – passing through an incredible range of landscapes along the 200km journey from start to finish.

Whilst largely following the iconic Bibbulmun Track, the race course also strays away from the designated trail to provided added variety, escape some sand and to visit a number of spectacular landmarks the main trail misses – like the Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks, Mutton Bird Island and the truly spectacular granite features on the Torndirrup Peninsula like Misery Beach and Salmon Holes

Being a 3 day race, divided into 4 legs each day – there are 12 designated legs in total that vary in length between 10km and 26km, allowing runners with varying levels of ability to be involved in the same team. Each leg provides exceptional running past many of the region’s most popular (and often most remote) landmarks, such as:

DAY 1:

  • The almighty Karri and Tingle Trees in the Valley of the Giants near Walpole
  • Conspicuous Cliffs and some rock-hopping around Rame Head
  • The wild running along the coastline on leg 2
  • The remarkable little cove at Boat Harbour

DAY 2:

  • The remote country the course passes through on the Nullaki Peninsula
  • The inland trails over Monkey Rock and Mount Hallowell
  • A boat journey across Wilson Inlet to the jaw dropping scenery at West Cape Howe

DAY 3:

  • The powerful Albany windfarm and back beach
  • Running the length of ‘Australia’s Best Beach’ – Misery Beach
  • Finishing at the historic Camp Quaranup with its heritage buildings and views across Princess Royal Harbour.

Read further details about the course, along with descriptions of each leg with maps and further details on the Course Description page.

The camaraderie amongst competitors

As impressive as the journey is, it’s the camaraderie between competitors that will set this event apart and make it truly exceptional.

It’s one thing to see and experience these sights yourself, but it’s another thing to share it with other people and then relive the pain, the blisters, the views and the vibes at each checkpoint or over a beer around camp each night.

This will be an incredible shared experience with old friends and new.

“Way outside my comfort zone but totally worth the pain, tears and friendship made.” – Glenys Brady, 2022 participant

The competitor services

As runners ourselves, we know that running 70+km a day is often hard enough so we’ll provide plenty of competitor love and support so all you have to do it run (and run and run…).

It’s often the small touches that make a good event a GREAT EVENT so we’ll coordinate a range of support services such as:

  • Serviced checkpoints with hydration and nutrition on course when you need it the most
  • Coordinated social functions and daily stage presentations so you can relive the day and relax with old friends and new afterwards
  • Coordinated accommodation and recommended services to check in to – doing the research so you know you’re booking into the best options.
  • Detailed event briefing information so you know how to prepare beforehand, and how each day will flow
  • Post-race massages and other recovery sessions to help you get through the course

The Great Southern Stage Run will be delivered with the high level of competitor services and support you’d expect from an industry leading event company like Rapid Ascent.

2022 Event Weekend Review

  • Results – Overall and Day by Day: CLICK HERE >>
  • Wrap Up Story – Read about just how spectacular this World Class course is: CLICK HERE >>
  • Facebook Summaries and Photos: CLICK HERE >>
  • Competitor Photos – CLICK HERE >> to access the folders of professional photos taken during the event. Please tag @noeko.film @travishayto and #greatsouthernstagerun when posting to social media.

2022 Highlights Reel

Relive the race with this exceptional highlights video from the 2022 Great Southern Stage Run.