The Gold Rush is an out and back foot race over the popular Goldfields Trail starting and finishing at the popular ‘Boulders’ Swimming Hole near Babinda. The Goldfields Trail traverses Australia’s wettest rainforest with a multitude of refreshing creek crossings and a challenging climb over the saddle between Queensland’s two highest peaks: Bartle Frere (1622m) and Bellenden Ker (1592m).

The turnaround (for the premier 42km event) is at the Goldsborough Camping Ground in the Mulgrave Valley. The half event turnaround is at the picturesque East Mulgrave River causeway. The 5k event turnaround is 2.5 km along the Goldfield Trail from the Boulders Picnic Area.

The Trail Marathon event can credibly lay claim to being the most scenic marathon event many runners could hope to enjoy. However, claims to being the toughest marathon would hold equal integrity. Around 1100m of vertical ascent, evaporation arresting humidity and the full range of trail surfaces is sure to test even the most well prepared runners. This event is a serious tropical test. While the large majority of the course is shaded, and regular watercourses provide relief, safety precautions require entry to be at the discretion of the Race Director. As a prerequisite to entry, competitors in the 42km event will be asked to nominate a challenging endurance event they have recently completed successfully or where not possible fully document their preparation.

5km Course

Simply turns around at a marked point 2.5km along the Goldfields Trail (and well short of the saddle in the Bellenden Ker Range) and returns to the Boulders Carpark.

23km Course

Also crosses the saddle in the Bellenden Ker Range but runners turn at the causeway over the East Mulgrave River and return (over the saddle) to finish at the Boulders Carpark.

42.2km – The Trail Marathon

Includes the length of the Goldfields Trail (over the saddle in the Bellenden Ker Range before crossing the East Mulgrave River). At the end of the trail runners continue into the Goldsborough Campground and to a signed turnaround point. At this point runners return the way they came but after a short distance turn left onto the Kearney’s Falls track. This 1.8km (return) side trip takes runners to an impressive waterfall from which they return the same way they came and then turn left and head back onto the Goldfields Trail. The finish is at the Boulders Carpark (back across the East Mulgrave River and over the saddle in the Bellenden Ker Range).

Trail Marathon event course below – 23k and 5k event turnaround locations marked on this map….

Proposed Gold Rush Marathon (Trail Run)

Facilities: picnic tables, BBQ’s, toilets, car park; drinking water & 5km from the small township of Babinda.

Camping:
The Boulders Camping Ground and Park are open. Currently, no bookings are required for this campground and limited sites are available (5). Another larger campground (also free) is available next to Babinda creek. This camp is located by turning east off the highway opposite the turnoff into Babinda and then turning right immediately at the T intersection and driving the short distance to Babinda Creek (the campground is immediately Left before the bridge).

Babinda Motel:
Howard Kennedy Drive, Babinda, QLD, 4861
07 4067 1638

Babinda State Hotel:
73 Munro St Babinda
07 4067 1202
Email: stay@babindastatehotel.com.au
Web: www.babindastatehotel.com.au

Alternatively accommodation in Cairns is plentiful. See transport below.

Transport: email shane@adventuresportnq.info for car pool options (offers/requests) or if enough interest is shown a bus will be organised. Please let me know prior to April 30 if interested in a bus.