GOW100S A MOST STUNNINGLY HISTORIC ULTRA EVENT

Kate Dzienis • May 30, 2019

By Kate Dzienis

One of Australia’s most spectacular and scenic trail ultras will soon be upon us, and you don’t want to miss out on this beauty of a race.

The Great Ocean Walk 100s in Victoria is the ultimate in stunning trail ultra marathons, and is described as not just a race, but an event because of its significant social aspect that gets everyone together and becoming mates.

From the moment you become a GOW100 participant, you are welcomed in to a family. Race director Andy Hewat explains that following registrations, bib pick-up and a briefing at the Apollo Bay hall, runners head to the local for a get together and to compare pre-race notes as well as past experiences and tips to newcomers.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone to get excited and all fired up for the day of the event,” he says.

“After the run on the Saturday night, the majority of runners hang around the finish line to support everyone coming through, and then later head out to Port Campbell, which is just a short drive away, and stay at the backpackers there or head to one of eateries to swap stories and war wounds.

“Sunday morning we have the breakfast presentation, which has a great atmosphere, and it gives everyone a great opportunity to catch up with people they don’t really get to see or see new friends they’ve just made.”

The GOW100s course is considered to be one of the most scenic in the country. Incredibly diverse, participants can expect to log kilometres on a variety of terrain and in a wide range of weather conditions – from running through single track in lush rainforest and passing dairy farms to taking in cliffside views and kicking up pristine sand along the beaches; from clear blue skies to arduously horizontal rain. Nature is at its most raw along this part of Australia, and you can expect to experience the unexpected.

Starting at Apollo Bay, the event is a 100km solo race or a 55/45 two-person relay – bar the odd koala or snake passing by, and it just gets better according to Hewat.

“It’s dedicated walking track, so you’re not going through towns or running on roads, and yes you can get a bit lonely at times but it’s all part of the experience,” he says.

“The course is deceptive so there are no real big climbs, but it has an accumulative amount of about 2,500m of vertical gain over the 100km and is perfectly achievable for entry level 100km runners.

“Checkpoints, of which there are four, are fairly well spaced out so there is a bit of self-reliance out there but they’re close enough for participants to be adequately supplied between each one.

“Because it’s a fairly boutique event and has the reputation of being a quality event, I want to make sure we use good quality t-shirts, collapsible cups, buffs, and buckles which are made by a family company in Tasmania.”

The GOW100s is the only race held on this trail in this particular part of the world, with local government quite protective and permits very difficult to acquire, and leaves participants with the greatest opportunities to stop for a moment to take in the views, the scenery, and the moments of being a part of the coastal landscape.

“By all means, take photos and enjoy it because it’s not only a very scenic area but a very historic one,” Hewat reveals.

“There’s a lighthouse from the 1800s, there’ve been hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast too, you go past a small century-old cemetery, so I absolutely encourage people to take a moment and is one for the selfies for sure.”

The GOW100s will be held on Saturday, October 19 and registrations are now open. Click here for more information.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater