Event Date:

Saturday, 26th October 2024 | Sign in starts at 5am | Race starts at 6am

Event Location:

Start location: Gumburu Environmental Education Centre, 1 Short Street, Paluma 4816

Finish location: Paluma Village Green, 65 Mount Spec Road, Paluma 4816

Entry Fee:

$129 General Entry | $149 Late Entry (starts 5th October)

Minimum age is 18 years as of event date.

What’s included:

• Race entry
• Race number with timing chip
• Professional event timing services
• Aid Stations
• Drop bag service
• Medical Support Services
• Post race refreshments and BBQ
• Awards and Prizes for the Top 3 male and female runners
• Finisher Certificate
• Professional event photography (high resolution images available for download after the event at no extra cost)
• 50% discount on the Paluma Village Trail Run entry on Sunday morning
• The best Ultra Trail Race you will ever run

Additional options:

• Accommodation at Gumburu Environmental Education Centre: Friday Night (Check in at 4pm): $55pp | Saturday Night: $55pp (shared accommodation)
• Friday Carb Dinner: $25pp (Beef Lasagne, Fried Rice, Salad buffet, Garlic Bread & Desert) *dietary requirements can be catered for
• Saturday Breakfast: $15pp (Continental Breakfast – selection of cereals, toast & condiments, fresh fruit and yoghurt) *dietary requirements can be catered for
• Saturday Dinner: $25pp (Chicken Casserole with Rice and steamed Vegetables & Desert) *dietary requirements can be catered for

If you are flying to Townsville and would like to hire a car, we recommend contacting NQ Adventure Rentals. Mention the Paluma Ultra to them to receive a discount on your car hire or contact us for a code to use when booking online.

Taking the Paluma Village Trail run to the next level, we have added a 52km ultramarathon trail run event to our repertoire.

The Paluma Ultra is one of the only ultra events that does not have a single bit of bitumen, well actually it does, but only 492 meters. The other 51.5km consist of a great variety of single trail, dirt road and old logging trails.

The Paluma Ultra course began a long time ago. First the tin miners followed their way up the creeks chasing the mother load of tin found in the Mt Spec area, then it was the loggers chasing the cabinet timbers found in the rainforest. It wasn’t until 30 years ago when a local legend called Wilfred and his mate Thorsten purchased a homestead lease on a block of land hidden deep in the ancient rainforest that had overgrown anything left behind from tin miners and loggers.

One day while Wilfred and his wife Dianne where clearing land to build what is now known as the DCK Shelter, Dianne went for a walk to check the boundaries of the block- she never returned. Local authorities and volunteers began the biggest land search in Queensland history at the time and no trace was ever found. Over the next 30 years Wilfred and his friends began clearing the old tin mining and logging trails as well as building the DCK Shelter as a base for their undertakings. Today the network encompasses over 100km of trails, telling the history of the area along with many magnificent natural landscapes.

The course is broken down into 8 sections to help you break it down into bite size pieces.

Section 1 – Escaping Civilisation

• The journey commences at Gumburu Environmental Education Centre, nestled among the rainforest at the start of Paluma Village. The course takes runners along a tiny bit of bitumen straight out onto the dreamy village trails. Runners are instantly immersed into the rainforest vibes of these trails that take them across Cloudy Creek and out towards Ethel Creek Falls. A good opportunity to refresh and fill up on water.

Section 2 – Rainforest Run

• From Ethel Creek falls, the course continues deep into the rainforest, following technical single trail tracks with plenty of rocks and roots, that will get every trail runner into their flow state. Some steep hills

Section 3 – Wilfred’s World –

Section 4 – Mt Spec Spectacle –

Section 5 – Benham’s Track –

Section 6 – Hidden Valley Wonderland –

Section 7 – Forgotten Falls –

Section 8 – The Local Loop –

To download the GPX file for the course and explore the map and elevation profile in more detail, visit the Plotaroute website HERE.

Elevation Profile

Paluma Ultra – Awaken your Sense of Adventure

A trail run race like no other! The Paluma Ultra has it all- technical, fast, flowy and challenging single trail with minimal boring bitumen.

We also offer additional services to help with logistics, such as bus transfer to & from Paluma (departing Townsville), shared accommodation in Paluma on Friday and Saturday night, Carb Dinner on Friday night and Buffet Dinner on Saturday as well as Breakfast on Saturday morning. All extras can be added to your online registration when entering the race.

Mandatory Equipment

All runners must carry the mandatory equipment listed below. It is a requirement that all runners are fully self sufficient for the entire duration of the race. Please take into consideration the type of terrain the course traverses and that technical single trail will take you significantly longer than running on open roads.

• Hydration vest or similar
• Adequate water and nutrition
• 2x compression bandage
• 1x emergency blanket
• 1x whistle
• 1x headlight (fully charged and/or carry spare batteries)
• 1x mobile phone (fully charged and waterproofed. Navigation app and course gpx file must be downloaded (this will be checked at sign in). Please save the Race Directors number in your phone 0421 484 211)
• 1x set of paper copy maps (these will be handed out at sign in)
• 1x good quality rain jacket (in adverse weather conditions only- this will be advised prior to race start)

Aid Stations & Bag Drops

There are two aid stations along the course. Aid Station 1 is located at the end of the Paluma Dam Loop at the 20km mark and Aid Station 2 is located at the Chicks Road turnoff towards Forgotten Falls, at the 38km mark. Both Aid Stations are manned with volunteers and are stocked with the following:

• First Aid
• Hydration – water and electrolytes
• Fresh Fruit
• Lollies
• Mini chocolate bars
• Small Coke bottles
• Small bags of salted chips

Both Aid Stations are also the Bag Drop locations. If runners wish to have a bag taken out to one or both of the Aid Stations, please drop the bag off at Race HQ by 5.50am. Bags must be labelled with your name and it is the runners responsibility to ensure it is dropped at the correct bag drop location. There are two labelled tubs, one for each Aid Station. An additional tub will be available for the Finish Line bag drop.

Cut off Times

There are two cut off points in the race. The first point is at Aid Station 1 at the end of the Dam Loop, at the 20km mark. Time: 10:30am. With a 6am start, this allows 4hr 30min for 20km (13.5min/km). Expect technical and undulating terrain.

The second cut off point is on Chicks Road at the turnoff to Forgotten Falls, which is the 38km mark. Time: 13:30pm. The trails are wider and less technical.

Finish Line cut off is 5pm. This allows for 11 hours total running time for 52km and an average of 12.7min/km.

Rules & Regulations: In order for the event to run as smoothly as possible we need all participants to cooperate and stick to our rules and regulations, please read through the points below:

• No rego, No run! – We do not offer registration on the day and most our events sell out in advance. Please check with us before coming to the event unregistered.
• Visible BIB number – Please make sure your bib number is clearly visible (front of shirt) when crossing the finish line, this ensures the correct detection of your timing chip by the electronic timing system. The bib can not be covered by clothes or bags, this might cause the timing chip to not be picked up by the antenna at the finish line.
• No shortcuts – please stick to the marked track, for safety and fairness reasons. All courses are clearly marked and we have marshals out on the course.
• Fitness level – please choose the right distance according to your fitness level! Many of our courses are a bit more technical and running on trail will take you approximately twice as long as running the same distance on road. Our trail run events are not designed to be walked, especially not the longer distances. If you have any questions in regards to choosing the right distance according to your ability, please feel free to contact us. The event officials reserve the right to short course or pull competitors out of the race if they are concerned for their well-being.
• Obey traffic regulations unless otherwise instructed by an event official
• Treat other competitors, officials, volunteers and spectators with respect and courtesy
• Dress Code – please wear appropriate clothing, including pants, shirts and suitable running shoes

Trail Run Etiquette:

• Be mindful that the trails are open for other users outside of the race, including runners and walkers
• Do not leave any rubbish behind. What you bring in you must take out
• Keep left and give way to runners passing from behind
• Don’t approach any wildlife you may come across on the trails
• We ask you to NOT wear headphones, so you can hear other trail users around and hear the trail marshals instructions
• Stop and give assistance to other runners if needed. If another competitor falls and injures themselves, it is not an opportunity to pass them. Give assistance and ensure they are ok. Time considerations will always be given to the ones who stop and assist injured runners.

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The Fine Print – Waiver Form – When registering online, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

Change, Cancellation and Refund Policy

Participant no longer able to attend/participate

1. Registered Participants who are no longer able to attend or participate in their registered event may:
   • Request a refund as outlined and in accordance with clauses 2 and 3;
   • Request a transfer of their registration to another event as outlined and in accordance with clauses 4 to 6; or
   • Request that their registration be transferred to another athlete as outlined and in accordance with clauses 7 to 9.

2. Participants may request a refund by emailing ‘events@outerlimitsadventure.com.au’ no less than 14 days prior to the event. No refund requests will be considered or refunds issued after this date.
3. Refunds made in accordance with clause 2 are subject to a $20 transaction fee per registration being refunded.
4. Participants may request to transfer their registration to the following year by emailing ‘events@outerlimitsadventure.com.au’ no less than 7 days prior to the event. No transfer requests will be considered or transfers issued after this date.
5. Event registrations can only be transferred once. If the registered participant is unable to attend their nominated subsequent event, the entry fee will be forfeited.
6. Transfers made in accordance with clauses 4 and 5 are subject to a $10 administration fee per registration that is payable at the time of transfer.
7. Participants may request to transfer their registration to another athlete by emailing ‘events@outerlimitsadventure.com.au’ no less than 7 days prior to the event. No athlete transfer requests will be considered or athlete transfers issued after this date.
8. Written requests for an athlete transfer must include the full name of the athlete being nominated in the registered participant’s place as well as their mobile number, email address, gender, date of birth and emergency contact information.
9. Athlete transfers made in accordance with clauses 7 and 8 are subject to a $10 administration fee per registration that is payable at the time of transfer.

Event Changes/Cancellation

10. Outer Limits reserves the right to alter the course without notice, reschedule and/or cancel the event in consultation with emergency services, government agencies and event stakeholders.
11. Should the event need to be rescheduled, all registrations will be automatically transferred to the new date.
12. Registered participants unable to attend the new date must notify Outer Limits by emailing ‘events@outerlimitsadventure.com.au’. Registered participants will then have the option to have their registration refunded (as outlined and in accordance with clauses 2 and 3), registration transferred (as outlined and in accordance with clauses 4 to 6) or nominate another athlete to take over their registration (as outlined and in accordance with clauses 7 to 9).
13. In the unlikely circumstance that the event has to be cancelled and is unable to be rescheduled, all registered participants will receive a credit towards a future event. The credit will be valid for 12 months.
14. Refunds are not available where the event is unable to be rescheduled.

If you are not quite up for a 52km run just yet but still would like to be involved, why not sign up to volunteer at the Paluma Ultra.

Please use the below form to express your interest and we will be in touch closer to the event.