The Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Run delivers a life changing odyssey for all runners with a spectacular course through a range of wild and untouched landscapes.
Starting amongst the Tingle and Karri trees at the Valley of the Giants in Walpole, runners will traverse long sections of the Bibbulmun Track through the mighty Great Southern region. From windswept beaches and cliff top tracks, to picturesque bays and quiet coastal hamlets – this is a journey that you’ll never forget.
FORMAT:
- 3 days of racing
- solo runners
- long course and short course options each day
Course summary
| LONG COURSE | SHORT COURSE | |
| DAY 1 Friday 15th November | 35km Valley of the Giants to Peaceful Bay | 17km Conspicuous Cliffs to Peaceful Bay |
| DAY 2 Saturday 16th November | 33km Nullaki to Cosy Corner | 24km Lowlands Beach to Cosy Corner |
| DAY 3 Sunday 17th November | 39km Prawn Rock Dog Beach Footbridge to central Denmark | 21km Greens Pool to central Denmark |
| 107km total | 62km total |
“Your inner adventurer and freedom seeking runner will be totally satisfied with the Great Southern Stage Run” Dorothy Roe, 2022 participant
Overview course map
LONG COURSE
Day 1 – 35km
Start: Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk
Finish: Peaceful Bay beach
Long course runners start at the Valley of the Giants tourist attraction amongst the giant Karri and Tingle trees. The race commences with a circuit of the Ancient Empire Track and then it’s onto the elevated treetop walkways that provide an amazing perspective on the forest around you.
Water points: 17km pt at Conspicuous Cliffs and additional locations tbc.
After exiting the treetop walk, runners follow the Bibbulmun Track as it weaves its way through the tall timber forests on a downhill run heading for the coast. The track exits the forest and continues through the coastal hinterland to arrive at the water point at the picturesque Conspicuous Cliffs Beach carpark and the 18km pt (this is where the short course runners start).
After the waterpoint, runners head onto the awe inspiring beach surrounded by steep dunes and cliffs, and then continue along the Bibbulmun Track as it climbs up and away from the beach and across the cliff tops providing views in all directions. The course soon diverts off the Bibbulmun Track for a spectacular adventure run along the wild and un-touched coastline, along the beaches and spectacular rocky headlands below the dunes to Rame Head before turning north for the calm waters of Peaceful Bay and the Day 1 finish line.
Day 2 – 33km
Start: Gilge Rd, Nullaki Peninsula
Finish: Cosy Corner
Water points: 10km pt at Lowlands Beach and additional locations tbc.
Day 2 starts off with a short, sharp and sandy climb to access the Bibbulmun Track on the Nullaki Peninsula. Once on the Bib Track, the course weaves its way through the beautiful coastal heathland with views inland to the Porongurup Ranges and along the coast to West Cape Howe in the distance. After 10km of undulating trail you arrive at the waterpoint at Lowlands Beach to fuel up and keep going. This is where the short course starts.
From Lowlands Beach the trail enters some of the more remote sections of the course as you run through the rugged, but wildly beautiful West Cape Howe National Park. Following the Bibbulmun Track the whole way, you’ll soon pass the Cape itself and embrace spectacular views to Shelly Beach, Mutton Bird Island and the Torndirrup Peninsula in the distance. After a fast flowing descent, you soon arrive at picturesque Cosy Corner and the finish of Day 2. Well done.
Day 3 – 39km
Start: Prawn Rock Dog Beach Footbridge – Near Ocean Beach
Finish: Denmark Recreation Centre
Water points: 10km and 23km at Lights Beach and additional locations tbc.
The final day commences on Wilson Inlet Estuary near Ocean Beach and heads west along the Wilderness Ocean Walk (WOW walk) below the Denmark windmills, providing expansive views to Parry Beach and beyond. Passing through Lights Beach water point for the first time at the 10km pt, runners continue west on the Bibbulmun Track as it heads over Tower Hill and onto the beach at the world renowned Greens Pool. This is where the short course starts.
Here the course turns east, passing Elephant Rocks, Madfish Bay and back through the Lights Beach water-point at the 23km pt. After Lights Beach, the Bib Track changes character and heads inland, climbing up through dense Karri forests and over the course’s highest point at Mt Hallowell (294m!). From the summit it is downhill (nearly) the whole way as the course descends the mount, and weaves through a few streets and hidden pathways beside Wilson Inlet and into the finish line in central Denmark. Well done – you’ve just finished the Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Run!
SHORT COURSE
Day 1 – 17km
Start: Conspicuous Cliffs
Finish: Peaceful Bay beach
Water points: Yes, location tbc.
Short Course runners commence at the awe inspiring Conspicuous Cliffs beach that’s surrounded by steep dunes, cliffs and crashing waves – its spectacular! Picking up the Bibbulmun Track, runners climb up and away from the beach and across the cliff tops providing views in all directions.
The course soon diverts off the Bibbulmun Track for a spectacular adventure run along the wild and un-touched coastline, running across beaches and rocky headlands to Rame Head. This section is absolutely spectacular and really captures the wild aspects of the south coast. From here, the Bib Track turns north and passes the calmer waters Gropher Bay before finishing on the sand at Peaceful Bay. Day 1 is done!
Day 2 – 24km
Start: Lowlands Beach
Finish: Cosy Corner
Water points: Yes, location tbc.
Day 2 starts at impressive Lowlands Beach. Soon after starting, the trail enters some of the more remote sections of the course as you run through the rugged, but wildly beautiful West Cape Howe National Park. Lined with wild flowers, Banksias and other beautiful flora – this is magical running.
Following the Bibbulmun Track the whole way you’ll soon pass the Cape itself and embrace spectacular views to Shelly Beach, Mutton Bird Island and the Torndirrup Peninsula in the distance. After a fast flowing descent you soon arrive at picturesque Cosy Corner and the finish of Day 2. Well done.
Day 3 – 21km
Start: Greens Pools
Finish: Denmark Recreation Centre
Water points: 6km at Lights Beach and other locations tbc.
The final day commences on the sand at world renowned Greens Pool. Once under way, runners pass Elephant Rocks and continue along the Munda Biddi Trail, past Madfish Bay and into the water-point at Lights Beach at the 6km pt.
After Lights Beach, the Bib Track changes character and heads inland, climbing up through dense Karri forests and over the course’s highest point at Mt Hallowell (294m!). From the summit it is downhill (nearly!) the whole way as the course descends the mount, and weaves through a few streets and hidden pathways beside Wilson Inlet and into the finish line in central Denmark. Well done – you’ve just finished the Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Run!
Trail textures and terrain
The course provides a remarkable variety of terrain from start to finish, from sandy trails winding through the dunes to rock hopping around the coastline – and everything in between.
Nearly the entire course is ALL SINGLE TRACK. If you are not running on single track then you are on firm sandy beaches or, on occasion, 4WD tracks with just the a very small amount of asphalt across the 3 days.
There is a moderate amount of sand on the course but on the whole the sand is A LOT FIRMER than the sand you may have run on if you have done the Margaret River Ultra Marathon course. There are some sections of soft sand on beaches, but the sand on the single track is very runnable and provides for good going.
Trail Marking
The course will NOT BE MARKED. Competitors must navigate their own way along the course by following the GPS route downloaded to their phones whilst racing (GPS route and clear instructions how to use it will be provided).
The vast majority of the course is along the Bibbulmun Track which is very well marked, and where the race course deviates away from the Bib track it will be easy to follow using your phone and some common sense.
It is the runner’s responsibility to ensure you follow the designated race route. We recommend using the Capra mapping app and encourage you to get familiar with it before race week.
Waterpoints and on course support
Waterpoints will be established at varying points along each day’s course, but may be up to 10-15km apart due to the inaccessibility of the terrain.
Waterpoints will provide basic foods for runners like fruit cake, lollies, fruit and plenty of Skratch Nutrition drinks, chews and bars.
Support crews can provide physical assistance and support at the designated waterpoints (only). No other assistance (other than verbal encouragement!) can be provided between checkpoints.
There will be very few, if any, marshals mid-way along each leg so runners must be self-sufficient and able to run independently between each waterpoint. We will, however, be supervising all sections of the course. We will have sweep runners to ensure runner safety.
The Bibbulmun Track
The Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Run follows large sections of the Bibbulmun Track between Walpole and Cosy Corner. The Bibbulmun Track as a whole is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills all the way through to Albany, winding through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia.
The course does not follow the track exclusively, as we deviate off the official route on a number of occasions where we think there is a more scenic option.
We are proud to be Bronze Level sponsors of the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. We strongly encourage entrants to also make a donation to help preserve the track and it’s surroundings.
Points of interest on the Bibbulmun Track
