Oxfam Trailwalker Australia

On the day

Photo: Morris McLennan/OxfamAUS

The Start

The Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane journey starts at the Maiala Picnic Area on Mt Glorious Road. Both Mount Glorious Road and the picnic area do not have the capacity for a large volume of vehicles and as such the team registration area will instead be located at Bellbird Grove Recreation Area on Mt Nebo Road.

What will happen at the registration area?

Prior to each start, teams are re-registered to double check their vital information and each team is issued with unique race bibs. Once registered, teams will be taken to the Start by bus.

As the bus drive to the Start location will take 45 minutes, all participants must register during a set time. Support crews should drop teams off at Bellbird Grove during each team’s allocated registration time which is determined by the start time the team has been assigned. These set registration times are listed below.

Teams allocated the 7am start: register between 4.30am and 5.30am
Teams allocated the 8.30am start: register between 6.00am and 7.00am
Teams allocated the 10.00am start: register between 7.30am and 8.30am

Please note:

• Teams must register as a complete  team of four
• Teams will not be permitted to go to the Start until they have registered and received their event bibs
• If a team misses their allocated registration time they will need to wait for the next wave of buses and commence in the next start time
• Places on the buses are limited to the number of participants in each start time, so it is better to be early than late to ensure you catch the bus and enter the start time you were allocated

Bush checkpoints vs support crew checkpoints

The main functions of the checkpoints are to record the progress of the teams; provide a safe location for participants to rest; distribute basic food and water provisions; provide essential first aid and medical support; and act as a base for communications and emergency services if required.

For the majority of the 100km trail, teams will be walking on fire trails situated in remote bushland in D’Aguilar National Park. There will be three bush checkpoints (Checkpoints 1, 2 and 4) with only basic amenities & provisions (food, water, first aid, portaloos). No support crew access will be allowed at these checkpoints under any circumstances.

The checkpoints where support crews can meet with teams are: Lake Manchester (Checkpoint 3), Bellbird Grove (Checkpoint 5), Corra-Mulling Park (Checkpoint 6) and the Finish. Teams are encouraged to plan their support crew assistance and their rest and meal breaks based on the estimated times they will be at these checkpoints. The bush checkpoints will not provide a place to sleep or rest comfortably for long periods. The sections of the trail where teams will have to be most prepared and self-sufficient are the Start to Lake Manchester (44.8km) and Lake Manchester to Bellbird Grove (28.9km).

All checkpoints will have:

Water and hydration: drinking water is available at all sites and hot water at some. Sports drink will be available at all checkpoints.

Toilets: toilet facilities are provided at all checkpoints, mostly portaloos.

First aid: first aid services are provided at every checkpoint, including bush checkpoints. Support crew checkpoints will also have volunteer massage, physiotherapy or podiatry support available at selected times.

Food and drink: the food provided at the checkpoints is very basic and intended to supplement the provisions supplied by support crews. Food provisions at the checkpoints are for Trailwalkers only. Some checkpoints will have vendors selling hot drinks, plus other drinks and food, so support crews can enjoy a quality fair trade coffee while they wait.

Checkpoint 1, Dundas Road:

After just 15.4kms, most people don’t stay for very long at this bush checkpoint. Refill your water bladder, use the portaloos and grab a banana to fuel up for the climb up Taylors Break to Checkpoint 2.

• This is a bush checkpoint and is not accessible by support crew.
• There will be bread and spreads as well as bananas for the participants.
• Cold water and GU Electrolyte drink will be available. Paper cups will be available at all bush checkpoints.
• Please be patient at the check-in/check-out desks as there may be a queue.

Checkpoint 3, Lake Manchester 

This is the first major rest stop for teams and the first support crew accessible checkpoint. Most teams will be stopping for a long rest here and many teams will sleep for a few hours. The majority of teams will arrive on Friday between 5pm and 1am so it’s the perfect place for a hearty meal and rest. After walkers leave Checkpoint 3 they’ll be taking on the toughest section of the trail, with creek crossings and a huge climb up to Checkpoint 4. The next leg is 16.8 kms, so make sure your team is well rested and ready for section 4. At this checkpoint you will find:

• Plenty of parking - however you must adhere to parking marshal instructions at all times.
• Quiet camping area where support crews can set up a tent for their teams.
• BBQ Fundraiser, hot soup and drinks hosted by Kiwanis Group Friday afternoon until late Friday night.
• Montville fair trade coffee from Friday afternoon until late Friday night. 10% of sales go straight back to Oxfam.
• Oxfam will provide tea and coffee making facilities for participants only.
• Hot water is available.
• Oxfam has eliminated paper cups from the support crew checkpoints. Ensure your support crew brings along a reusable mug and/or cup for you, your team and themselves.

NOTE: There is no mobile phone coverage for the last 6-8 kms on approach to Checkpoint 3, so support crews should not rely on mobile contact prior to meeting their teams at Lake Manchester.

Checkpoint 4, Dundas Rd

Most teams will be arriving at Checkpoint 4 in the wee hours of Saturday morning and after 17 creek crossing you might like to take the opportunity to change your socks. While you cannot meet your support crew here you can warm up with a hot chocolate and a blanket.

• Hot & cold water as well as GU electrolyte drink
• Breads and spreads (vegemite, peanut butter & honey)
• Soups
• Oxfam FAIR tea & coffee (UHT Milk). Oxfam will again provide the paper cups
• Blankets

Checkpoint 5, Bellbird Grove

This checkpoint presents the second opportunity for support crews to meet their teams. Due to limited parking please ensure you do not arrive too early and leave as soon as your team departs. The checkpoint is located in the Red Ash area of Bellbird Grove.

• Quiet camping area where support crews can set up a tent for their team.
• BBQ Fundraisers hosted by Mt Nebo State School  early Saturday morning until Saturday afternoon.
• Coffee Harmony will be selling coffee on Saturday from 1am – 2pm.
• Oxfam has eliminated paper cups from the support crew checkpoints. Ensure your support crew brings along a reusable mug and/or cup for you, your team and themselves.

Checkpoint 6, Corra-Mulling Park

Corra-Mulling Park in The Gap is the final checkpoint before the Finish. Accessible by support crews, this is the last stopping point on the 100km journey. Support crews are asked to park considerately along Yoorala St. From here they will see their teams emerge from the trails alongside Enoggera Creek on their way to the checkpoint at the park adjacent to the ‘Save our Waterways Now’ garden.

• BBQ fundraiser hosted by the Rotary club of Ashgrove and The Gap from early morning Saturday until Saturday afternoon
• Montville fair trade coffee. Saturday afternoon. 10% of sales go straight back to Oxfam
• Oxfam has eliminated paper cups from the support crew checkpoints. Ensure your support crew brings along a reusable mug and/or cup for you, your team and themselves.

The Finish, JC Slaughter Falls Picnic Ground

This is where you will gather to watch, cheer and welcome teams across the finish line. With plenty of parking you can bring the family along and enjoy the atmosphere with your team.

• While there is plenty of parking, please follow the signs and listen to the parking marshals as this will help avoid congestion.
• BBQ fundraiser by QLD charity Multicap Saturday morning through to Saturday night.
• Local West End Black Star Coffee by Multicap  Saturday morning through to Saturday night.
• Oxfam has eliminated paper cups from the support crew checkpoints. Ensure your support crew brings along a reusable mug and/or cup for you, your team and themselves.