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Ultra marathon (Team Relay) 66km

3,780m±   Saturday, 29th March 2025* (*tentative)

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Our Ultra Team Relay is a team bonding adventure unlike any other! Get your running mates together and experience a truly unique day of running with kunanyi. There are 5 legs, ranging between 11km and 18km, on the same epic course as the Ultra Solo. Each leg on this course has its own unique feature that will match every teammate’s trail running love – so you can pull together a team of vert lovers, nature lovers, downhill frothers, mountain goats and speedsters! Teams can be made up of 2 to 5 runners (with runners doing multiple legs in smaller teams).

Registrations open late 2024!

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Join our mailing list Course map Mandatory gear

Presented by:
Willie Smith's

Course description

The Ultra 66km course was described by a 2023 runner as “trail running heaven”. It will see teams circumnavigate kunanyi and head down and up each valley! It features the famous Organpipes Track, with spectacular views down to niplaluna/Hobart, the kunanyi pinnacle plateau, technical single tracks through beautiful snow gums, as well as old growth eucalypts, rainforests, technical scrambling – and so much more! See the full course leg descriptions below:

runHub to Pinnacle | 12.0km | 1,320m ↑ | 180m ↓ |  Map

Straight out of the runHub, past Cascade Brewery on the paddocks, a bit of tarmac, then you enter the silver peppermint forests and fire trails of kunanyi’s foothills. Turn onto the single trail and immerse in the ferns and waterfalls, climbing up Myrtle Gully Track. Passing Junction Cabin, the sunlight returns and the climb continues through the big eucalypts and past Crocodile Rock. Open dolerite boulder fields can test agility but don’t miss the views! Merge with Old Hobartians track and keep climbing through sub alpine scrub to the Chalet. Cross the road (under direction of the course marshals) and onto the flowing and relatively flat and well built Organ Pipes Track. Don't miss the epic views of Hobart and beyond and the organ pipes above. Time to climb again up the almost fully stone pitched Zig Zag track, up through alpine scrub and onto the kunanyi pinnacle plateau, the alpine heath and the regularly howling wind! Most seasoned Hobart trail runners don jackets and beanies up on the last Z turn, before rounding out. Jump into the aid station, hand over your race number to your leg 2 runner and you’re done!

With by far the most climbing of all the legs, this one is for those that like the vert a little more than most! Lucky the best kept secret of trail running is that you don’t actually run uphill much, as power hiking is often faster and much more energy efficient. Check this article out for technique

Pinnacle to Myrtle Forest | 12.0km | 320m ↑ | 1,040m ↓ |  Map

Off The Pinnacle and straight down Pinnacle Road for a couple of kilometres before heading off down Big Bend Fire Trail and over the back of the mountain, with views of the Collins Peak and the side of Sleeping Beauty. Turn on to the technical single track over Mt Connection through alpine marsh, snow gums, and the famous Tassie waratah. A short rock slab slide and flowing tight single trail brings you out on to East West Fire Trail and the climb up on to the shoulder of Collins Bonnet, before dropping down on the single track through old growth eucalypts and rainforest. Then it's down through a couple of creek crossings, and more waterfalls and ferns to the Myrtle Forest Aid Station.

If you like the alpine vegetation, epic views, a bit of exposure, and enjoy technical single track and a some descending - then this leg is for you.

Myrtle Forest to Mountain River | 12.4km | 570m ↑ | 930m ↓ |  Map

After a kilometre of flat to warm up, climb straight back up on single track through the rainforest, massive old growth eucalypts and waterfalls. Then it's back up to the snow gums and alpine scrub to climb Collins Fire Trail and the undulating East West Fire Trail, curving across Sleeping Beauty’s neck. Then the epic views down the Huon Valley and out to Bruny Island emerge, and you drop down the biggest descent of the run on Mountain River Trail – an old and rocky fire trail. Down, down, down it goes on the southern side of kunanyi; back through similar vegetation types except there aren't any old growth trees on this side – you may even see the stumps of the old giants and an old saw pit site of two. You’ll know your quads a little better after the 900 metre (straight down) descent, which pops you out on the gravel Mountain River road for a few kilometres, through the farming valley of Mountain River and to the aid station, located on a generous farmer's property.

This leg is for the downhill frothers! The diversity of landscapes, views, mountain and valley mean that those who run this leg will connect deeper with the mountain, its history and culture. It's a must-do leg for everyone once they get the downhill quads sorted!

Mountain River to Cathedral | 11.0km | 920m ↑ | 840m ↓ |  Map

Traversing farm land ridges on the foothills of Montagu Thumbs, sing to the cows and admire Sleeping Beauty to the north from whence Leg 3 came. At the Wellington Park boundary, it's time to climb the steep Old Montagu Trail through dry - then wet eucalypts - rainforest, and back up into the alpine scrub and snow gums. The trail is no longer passable to vehicles with some great scree and erosion gullies, but ATVs still make it up to Norris Hut! You’ll enjoy our track maintenance work (thanks to all the volunteers!) for the next while – the dense low beura bush was ‘fun’ to bash through just a couple of months ago. Then it's on to one of the most spectacular sections of the entire route, the single track of Montagu Thumbs traverse – a real skyrunning experience of sharp and exposed ridge line, with 360 degree views down the Huon, Channel, Bruny, South Arm, Kingston, the southern slopes of kunanyi with the NW Bay River below. Wellington Falls is also just out of view but you can see where it is by reading the terrain, and a little look back to Mt Montagu. The traverse is technical, scrambly, with a heap of short sharp ups and downs. It's also a little exposed to heights in parts. The traverse ends on top of Cathedral Rock, and then comes off the ridge line and bombs down the hill, on a steep single track then old fire trail - zig zagging all the way down to NW Bay River and the aid station on a wood carver's property.

This leg is for the more adventurous trail runner, who really likes scrambling around mountains and feeling the air space on both sides drop away. With equal parts of both solid climbs and descents, this is for the mountain goat.

 Cathedral to Fern Tree to runHub | 18.9km | 640m ↑ | 780m ↓ |  Map

Heading back up the Cathedral Rock track for a couple of kilometres, high-fiving the crew on the way down, you cross the NW Bay river bed and head up a short(ish…) steep climb. It's up a fire trail, dubbed Siphon’s ugly cousin, and it to connects to the Pipeline Track. Stride out the next 7km on this comparatively flat and smooth track (just watch the occasional root!) to Fern Tree Bower, then it's uphill through a ferny gully with an old water supply race (that's a water channel) to Silver Falls. Continue up the steep and technical Reids track to Radfords, then traverse downhill onto the classic Fern Glade track down to Fern Tree and the mid leg aid station.

Continuing down the Pipeline Track past a couple of century old stone arches supporting the water pipeline, you’ll turn in at Halls saddle. Past an old quarry, and zigzagging up (check out the view of the organ pipes!), then down a short single track through silver peppermint forest around Chimney Pot hill. Cross the road and back down on to the pipeline track to the old stairs down Gentle Annie Falls. You’re now in Waterworks Reserve and will take the single track around the dam that supplies drinking water to Hobart. Zig then zag gently up the last hill to Huon Rd, then bomb down rough steep tracks to Cascade paddocks, the home straight, and the finish line and runHub! Enjoy the recovery area with hearty food and drinks available for purchase including some classic Tasmanian beverages.

While this leg is the longest at 20km, it is considered to be equally achievable as the other legs due to the lovely stride out on Pipeline Track and less elevation than other legs. This leg will suit the speedy runners out there.

Each leg is a challenge and an epic achievement in it’s own right!
Download leg descriptions

kMR Ultra Profile

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Course video

3D Fly through

Qualifying: No race qualifying needed. Minimum 16yrs age (with parent/guardian consent) unless by exception; contact run director.

Mandatory gear list

FAQs:

That’s ok. You can secure a team registration to avoid missing out then find your team mates. You can likely find team mates readily via social media group via your local run groups, or join a training squad, or perhaps reach out to someone local on the Hobart Trail Runners group.

No worries, your team can have less than 5 but must have a minimum of two. The rego fee remains the same.

To be confirmed.

No, to secure a team entry, the team captain is required to cover the full team fee at time of registration.

No, but have a good look at the maps and course description to assess if you’re up for the challenge of taking on a leg. If you’d like to know more about trail running before signing up, join the Hobart Trail Runners and come out to a few social runs. The friendly crew has heaps of knowledge to share! www.kunanyiTrailSeries.com.au run a series of four 5-20km events over the year and is a great intro to trail running events on kunanyi as well as a serious challenge for more experienced trail runners wanting to push the pace.

Yes, there is minimum age of 16yrs on race day, however, if you are under 16, have qualifying runs, and can demonstrate that you are suitably mentally and physically fit to undertake the run, and can provide parental consent. Please send an email to register@kunanyimountain.run with a link to your strava or training log, a contactable running reference, and tell us why you want to run kMR Ultra as a team.

No, go for it!

Cut off times are designed to be fair and reasonable for all including slower runners. If your departure from the aid station is after the cut off time, you (and your team) will unfortunately be unable to continue in the event for safety reasons. Please see logistics section on this page for cut off times.

If you arrive at an aid station after the designated cut off time, you and your team will unfortunately be unable to continue. Please see logistics section on this page for cut off times.

Whilst perhaps possible, it is not likely due to the steep and technical nature of the tracks and trails, and time at aid stations and changeover

Yes absolutely! We care about your safety and this gear will help you survive in the unlikely event of requiring a rescue. Note, you only need one complete set of mandatory gear for your team if it fits you all, as you can pass to the next runner at the leg changeover.

Junction Cabin is a great place for your family and friends to go for a walk to immerse in the slopes of kunanyi themselves and cheer you on. We recommend they walk up from the end of Lenah Valley road or across from the Springs. Much of the course is not accessible by vehicle and some of the aid stations are along narrow roads with limited parking available. However Mountain River, Cathedral, and Fern Tree aid stations are accessible for additional support crew being the relay team car.

No, there are toilets at the runHub and each aid station to use. If you must go to the toilet on course, leave your run pack on the side of the track so sweepers do not leave you behind, dig a 15cm deep hole and fully bury, or carry out all waste.

Water, electrolytes, fruit, lollies, salty snacks, toilets, first aid, sunscreen, phone charging, sanitary products, toilets and drop bags if required (Myrtle Forest and Cathedral only), and of course, friendly volunteers!

Yes, please see logistics section on this page.

Statistically, March is pretty much the most stable weather month of the year. But this is Tassie, and every few years or so it does snow on kunanyi on Christmas day - so be prepared for wild weather! The mandatory gear is specified for your safety. We will be providing some more guidance prior to the event on when and why to use the mandatory gear to keep you as safe as possible. We also have a professional wilderness event medical and emergency response team and first aiders at all aid stations and roving on course to assist you if required. There are extreme weather circumstances which would postpone the event, eg, extreme or catastrophic bushfire danger (Wellington Park is then completely closed to everyone), or Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds – no one wants a tree falling on them. Emergency services will be involved in all such decisions, and you will be notified at earliest opportunity of any course changes, or event postponements – which may be very late notice.

Not likely, and how cool is running in snow! Even if is a blizzard at the pinnacle, it’s likely that the runs will still go ahead, but would likely be re-routed to avoid alpine areas, and you will be notified at earliest opportunity of any changes.

If you need more info to enable you to register then please let us know! If you would like more info to prepare for your kunanyi run, we will be producing a detailed Festival Booklet ahead of the event – if your question can’t wait that long then no worries, go ahead and reach out here!

Logistics

Each relay team preferably will have one team vehicle for you to drive yourselves between each aid station to pick up the previous leg runner and drop off the next leg runner. You will receive a designated team car pass with your bib to gain access past The Springs to Pinnacle aid station.

Don’t worry about the team car being late or stress over driving - the team time stops in the aid station! Once the previous leg runner is over the timing mat and into the aid station, the team time stops so the car doesn’t have to rush driving between aid stations. The timer starts again when the next leg runner leaves the aid station, so there is no issue if driving takes longer than running! Cut off times remain the same.

Leg Section Leg km Cumulative km Ascent Descent Cut off Relay avg
1 runHub (Wellesley Park)
Pinnacle
12.0km 12km 1,320m 180m 11.00am 1:50-2:15
2 Pinnacle
Myrtle Forest
12.0km 24.1km 320m 1,040m 1.30pm 1:30-2:20
3 Myrtle Forest
Mountain River
12.4km 36.5km 570m 930m 4.00pm 1:55-2:20
4 Mountain River
Cathedral
11.0km 47.5km 920m 840m 7.30pm 1:50-2:10
5a Cathedral
Fern Tree
11.2km 58.7km 490m 310m 10.00pm 1:30-1:40
5b Fern Tree
runHub (Wellesley Park)
7.1km 65.9km 150m 470m 12.00am 1:00-1:10
5 Cathedral
runHub (Wellesley Park)
18.9km 65.9km 640m 780m 12.00am 2:30-2:50

Key: Aid station Drop bag Additional support crew access

We care about your safety whilst out there – check out the MANDATORY GEAR LIST here

Course map