The waterfall in Obi Obi gorge was the perfect location for check point one
This year Mountain Designs Hells Bells delivered on its promise of an epic course creating legendary stories in a paradise like location.
One hundred and seven teams and nearly 300 people arrived at race HQ, at QCCC camp ground in Mapleton for Hells Bells 2025. Lining up to collect their race packs they were preparing to race either the full ‘Hells Bells’ course, or the shorter ‘Fairy Bells’ course.
Both have a 24 hour time limit, and include runs/treks, paddling and mountain biking to checkpoints in back country and wilderness areas. Finding these requires good map and compass navigation and there are always a few surprises and twists in the course.
Rolling hills in Witta
At race registration teams learned that they were to catch a bus to the start at Baroon Pocket Dam, 15 kilometres to the south for a wave start. Fairy Bells teams started the race with 5 km kayak on the dam before heading into the Obi Obi gorge, while Hells Bells teams started at 12:00 with quick run down the Sunshine Coast Great Walk to the launch straight into the Obi Obi gorge leg.
A real highlight of the 2025 course the Obi Obi gorge is a spectacular rock scramble down the Obi Obi creek that feature 100 meter high cliffs waterfalls and several short but very cold swims. Wearing helmets teams slipped, scrambled, swam, rock hopped and trekked down the creek. Exiting the gorge to the west is a real challenge and teams had to find a serious of check points on a steep spur that transported them to the small hinterland town of Witta and spectacular views over the Connondale and Blackall ranges.
Hells Bells teams ‘Not Known’, ‘Off Piste’ and ‘Blondes have more fun’ took an early lead and swapped places many times throughout the course. ‘What would Goggins do’ and ‘Shake and Bake’ were very fast on the Fairy Bells course and while New Zealand team ‘Dated Loaf and Pikelet’ were at the tail end after the first trek leg, experience, great navigation and strong mountain biking skills saw them quickly move through the field as the night descended.
The lead teams on the Mary River
Hell temporarily froze over in the late afternoon as many teams were surprised to be hit by a freezing and localised hail storm as the entered the first transition area. Many were thankful for the helmets that were mandatory gear for that leg.
Both Hells Bells and Fairy Bells courses then transition to a bike leg to head towards Kenilworth and then either a kayak and trek leg before heading to a local farm for a challenging rogaine leg for Hells Bells or straight to the farm for Fairy Bells.
For both courses the ride through Witta in the late afternoon was spectacular and featured a few navigational challenges along the way and some epic, and challenging downhills as team descended off the range and into the Mary River valley below. Most teams found their way but a nervous race directer watched with interest as several Hells Bells took an alternative route off the range into an area that he did not think was possible.
Patrons at The Kenilworth Hotel were amused as a procession of teams arrived and ordered drinks, and some even ordering dinner. With a very cold kayak leg ahead of them on the Mary River, perhaps more teams wished they’d taken advantage of the local hospitality before heading onto Mary River for a 12 km kayak leg on moving water.
The Kenilworth Hotel
The three transition areas in the Kenilworth area were buzzing with activity right through the night with kayak transfers, warm fires, a sausage size and some challenging activities between the kayak, trek and then farm based rogaine.
It was very exciting to have a strong youth contingent race with six youth teams and quite a few family teams race. It was also good to have three New Zealand teams cross the ditch to race in Australia.
The farm based rogaine, while short, was extremely challenging at night with steep hills, lantana and a herd of bemused cattle looking back at teams as they followed spurs, descended into gulleys and followed creek lines to collect up to six check points including two bonuses. This leg was a great opportunity for the good navigators to collect 1.5 hrs of bonus time for their teams whicj made a big difference in the final results.
Exiting the Mary River valley and farm, teams were confronted with the Delicia Track – a name many will never forget. Build in the late 19th century by an Indian road crew, this logging track climbs steeply out of the valley to Mapleton and teams pushed their way with bikes through the overgrown trail and up sections reasonable people would say is impossible.
‘Not Known’ Tim Boote, Elly Jackson, Klayten Smith, Angus Rodwell
Once back on top of the range and into the Mapleton National Park area teams had the option of collecting four check points and heading back the finish or a series of three bonus check points on the ‘Kureelpa Falls’ trails circuit. A 1.5 hour exercise that resulted in 3 hours of bonus time. Two Fairy Bells teams and six Hells Bells teams completed the full loop, securing their place at the top of the rankings while quite a few of the competitive teams collected at lease one of these bonuses.
The final kilometres of the course saw teams roll through town happy to be out of the bush and back to the finish line at the QCCC camp ground. The race director was berated severely for the nasty hike-a-bike although it is not clear if he listened at all.
With time bonuses up for grabs it was hard to know which teams had won initially as they crossed the line, but as they downloaded their results it was clear that ‘What would Goggins do’ had won Fairy Bells in 8:04:05 hrs with 4:30 hrs of bonuses beating their nearest rivals by just over one hour. Team ‘Not Known’ crossed the line around 3:00am and took a decisive win in Hells Bells in a time of 9:03:03 after time credits and bonuses.
HELLS BELLS – FULL COURSE
Mixed
Not Known
Blondes have more fun
Racing as I do
Female
Mountain Designs Wild Women
Raging Coconuts
Sisters and Blisters
Male
Off Piste
Yeah the Chatter
G.D.A.R
FAIRY BELLS – HALF COURSE
Mixed
Dated loaf and Pikelet
Three Good Knees
Red Pandas
Female
Just having fun
Wild Hearts and Dirty Boots
Walkie Talkies
Male
What Would Goggins Do?
Bruce
Shake and Bake
You can find the full results and review the tracking at www.hellsbells.com.au/live-tracking
The next adventure race from Wild & Co is ‘Top Dog 24’ in Canberra followed by ‘Buckleys 24’ in Victoria with details at www.topdog24.com.au and www.buckleys24.com.au
Hells Bells is part of the Adventure Racing World Series Oceania calendar.
