Get moving, this May!

Do you lust for adventure? Does an intense physical activity feature on your list of recreational activities? Do you find peace in just sporting on your running shoes and leaving the hustle of the world behind? If you find yourself vigorously nodding at the computer / laptop / mobile screen these running festivals of Australia might just be your chance to harp that weekend getaway!

Ultra-trail Australia – May 14

Does trail-running while pampering your senses to some majestic landscapes feature in your list of getaway adventure activities? Well, Ultra-trail Australia might just be the event for you! A five day running festival, incepted in the year 2008, it provides a range of trail running events from the 100 km trail running to the recently introduced 50 km, and 22 km running events. Other events include a 1km run for the kids and a stair climb from the base of the iconic Furber steps. For the non-participants and the supportive family members, a festival expo is held for two days prior to the trail run. The expo features product exhibitions, gear demonstrations, nutrition workshops, and film screenings. Following the closing of the expo, the race begins the next day from the Scenic World, Katoomba. While the 50 km trail running participants would be required to complete only the last half of the 100km course, the 22 km run would begin from Victoria Hospital Wentworth Falls and end at Scenic World. Coursing through the Blue Mountains National Park, the participants during the course of their run would be spectators to an assortment of landscapes including some lush rainforests, otherworldly waterfalls, vast tablelands, and stunning rock formations – specifically the iconic Three Sisters. The new stair climb event, also referred to as UTA951, requires participants to undertake an arduous 951-step climb over 1 km, at a 220 m elevation. Internationally acclaimed for its well thought-out course, the event attracts recreational runners and acclaimed athletes from all over the world. Now with the adrenaline thumping through you, let’s send your happy hormones on a high too, shall we? Courtesy the enthralling sights of Narrow neck, Megalong Valley, Six Foot Track, Kedhumba Pass, Kings Tableland, Golden Stairs, Tarros Ladder, Clifftop tracks, Federal Pass, Jamison Valley your mood-lifting hormones will now get soaring!

Port to Port MTB Race – May 29

Care to mountain bike along tough terrains, sloping town landscape, and along the coarse – yes, you read it right – beach sand? The Port to Port MTB race that kicks off 29th this month will let you experience just that. Port to Port MTB is a four day stage mountain race across the iconic scenery of Newcastle, Port Stephens and Hunter Valley. The event invites riders of all calibers – from recreational to professional or trained. The race takes off through the sandy beach terrain of the Nelson Bay Marina – through the vertical beach section so steep that it requires wit and strength to ride past it, while one-upping your competitors! The next part of the trail takes you through a bumpy ride along the rugged singletracks of the hills of Pokolbin. After a speedy descent, the second lap culminates at the Linderman winery. Centered around the town of Cooranbong, the third lap is a 12 km ride along a seamless singletrack. The fourth and final lap of MTB commences at Lake Macquarie, speeding through the arduous singletrack of Glenrock and ends at Nobbys beach, at the port of Newcastle. Through sandy tracks, fire trails, hill climbs – exhausting might I add, fast singletracks and steep descents – Port to Port MTB presents to you this and opportunities to form long-lasting bonds. Mountain biking despite being regarded as a solo adventure sport, here, transforms into a healthy competition of being as a team, dining with bunkmates and replenishing in the covetable combination of adventure and nature.

Suck it up, Buttercup – May 21

Don’t mind getting down and dirty? Not intimidated by having to take long walks through sticky, wet mud? Slightly enchanted by Takeshi’s Castle while harbouring a secret desire to maybe try out some of those challenges for yourself? Suck it up, buttercup is a perfect way to fulfill that secret desire of yours! Held in Bago Vineyards near Port Macquarie, Suck it up, Buttercup is a 8 km mud obstacle race with over 40 obstacles to get you crawling, running and – of course – falling face down into the mud. Kicking off at 8:45 am sharp, the race is set admist a towering eucalypt forest, which then leads to a spectacular view of the rolling countryside and acres of grape vine. With obstacles like Mud Mucker, Timber Time, Bell Ringer, Ice ice baby, Suck it in buttercup, Camo crawl, Minefield Madness, Orangutan Ropes, get ready to roll your sleeves and get trudging through the mud.

Dungog Duathlon – May 29    

Gliding past the scenic vineries of Hunter Valley the view is spectacular, undoubtedly. But how does running along the farmland, with the wind whipping your hair and clothes about sound? If spectacular is the word you are looking for, then signing up for the Dungog Duathlon is what you should be doing! Organized by the Triathlon and Marathon club of Dungog, this duathlon is a combination of a 10 km cross country run, followed by a 40km mountain bike ride, culminating in a 6km cross country run. Kicking off from the Rifle Range in the Dungog Common, the cross country run will take you past a square mile of bush and farm land. The mountain bike ride, also held in the Common, will take you through hard, rocky dirt tracks ranging from fire trails to singletrack sections. The final 6km cross country run will take you uphill to the common, back to where you started, back to the Rifle Range. The Duathlon lets you enter as an individual or as a team. So grab those sport shoes and get running!

Tri Port Stephens Triathlon Festival – May 21

A serial competitor in triathlons or simply a sport enthusiast looking to boost your metabolism – albeit a little differently this time? No matter who you are, the Tri Port Stephens Triathlon Festival caters to and hosts events for all shapes, sizes, ages and ability. This triathlon – notoriously known to be the most fun triathlon – is a family friendly event and caters to seasoned professionals, amaeturs and the lay man. Particpants may choose among Standard, Sprint, Enforcer, Enticer, Tryatri courses – all designed at different distances. The Enticer course, for instance, involves 200 m swim followed by 10 km bike ride, ending with a 2 km run. For the first timer, the festival organizes Try-a-tri to let them in on the triathlon experience, free of cost. Beginning with the swim at One Mile beach, the course leads on to a bike course that surrounds the Tomaree National Park and finishes with a run around the township of Port Stephens. Still unsure if serious sporting isn’t your forte? Register for the Super Hero race that lets you race while donning the costume of your favourite superhero. Maybe even yell for glory with chants like – Justice is served. Or just run swishing along that cape and for once actually Be Batman.

 Bulli Burn – May 29

This two, five and ten kilometre fun run is annually organized by outdoor fitness company, Savvy Fitness. Head over to the Sardon Point on the northern tip of Bulli beach and choose the run you’d prefer. Starting from Bulli through Thirroul and back to the Sardon point, this run offers spectacular views of the south coast of the New South Wales. The course leads you through an uphill climb, therefore giving you the ‘burn’. Register for the course of your choice – hey, maybe tag some friends or family along! As you run through the scenic ocean and hill landscapes and feel the burn.

If these festivals had you reaching for your dusty sneakers, you know it’s time to get moving. From lovely landscapes of the Blue Mountains National Park to the muddy trails of Bago vineyards, let your adrenaline rush take main stage now. Eager to get running? Drop us a Postcard, and we will help plan your dream getaway! Plan your vacation trip with our International tour package and International honeymoon package.