Glassy Water, Fast Trails & Smart Racing on the Gold Coast

Wondering Dingoes claiming the win!

What an awesome day of adventure racing on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

After all the rain, Currumbin Creek turned on a beautiful morning — glassy water, great paddling and a course that mixed an urban trek around Currumbin, some fun and fast MTB trails and plenty of navigation decisions along the way.

It was a new sequence for Explore Gold Coast, mixing some classic checkpoints with plenty of new ones too.

There were bonus checkpoints to chase, route choices to make and even the option of a quick swim across the creek to save around a kilometre of running.

And despite the kayak leg having plenty of optional bonus checkpoints, pretty much everyone decided to do the whole thing anyway, even the Half Course teams — because the creek was just too good.

Congratulations to Wondering Dingoes, taking the overall win on the Full Course, and Adventure Before Ability, our Half Course winners.

It was an intimate field and a really fun day of racing.

Adventure racing isn't always about being the fastest. Sometimes it's about being the fastest in the right direction.

Thanks to everyone who came along and raced with us.

Results and course notes → wldnco.com/live

Next up for the Explore series → Explore Brisbane, 5 September.

wldnco.com/explore-series/explore-adventure-race-brisbane-2026

Explore Gold Coast Information Kit Is Live (again)

We’re finally racing this Saturday!

The 2026 Explore Gold Coast Information Kit is now live with everything you need for race day, including timings, location details, equipment requirements and important event information.

If you’re racing, make sure you read it before Saturday.

Not racing the Gold Coast? Have a look anyway and see what an Explore Adventure Race is all about.

And if you missed this one, Explore Brisbane is coming up on 5 September.

Gold Coast Information Kit → https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HEThHEiA1r-oTAHj75M0S467El3EURbJ/view?usp=sharing

Explore Brisbane → www.wldnco.com/explore-series/explore-adventure-race-brisbane-2026

#AdventureRacing #AdventureRace #TrailRunning #MountainBiking #Brisbane

Buckley’s 24 Location Announcement: Eildon, Victoria!

Photo by Arthur Hinton on Unsplash

Buckley’s 24 is heading to the Victorian High Country.

For 2026, we’ll be basing the race in Eildon, Victoria, giving us access to a huge adventure racing playground of mountains, waterways, State Forest, eucalypt bushland and some great mountain biking.

We’re excited to announce that the race will start and finish right in Eildon township, making race logistics easy and putting teams close to plenty of accommodation and facilities.

And the terrain around Eildon is made for adventure racing.

Expect a proper mix of paddling, mountain biking, trekking and navigation across some fantastic High Country terrain. There are extensive areas of forest, big ridgelines and valleys, plenty of tracks and trails, and some excellent opportunities for genuine navigation and route choice.

The waterways around Eildon give us some great paddling options, while the local mountain bike park will definitely feature somewhere in the race. And with a landscape surrounded by mountains, there are a peak or two that are far too tempting to ignore.

The surrounding bush ranges from dry, open eucalypt forest through to denser foothill and mountain forest, giving the course plenty of variety as teams move through the different sections of the race.

We won’t be giving too much more away about the course just yet — this is adventure racing after all — but expect a big, varied and very Australian 24-hour course with plenty of fun sections, some challenging navigation and a few memorable places along the way.

For Buckley’s Half, we’re aiming to make it a more genuine half-course in 2026, with the leading teams expected to be racing through well after dark. It’ll still be the more achievable option, but with enough racing to make it a proper adventure in its own right.

Buckley’s is all about a big, fun 24-hour adventure race: enough navigation and route choice to keep experienced teams thinking, but an achievable course for teams stepping up to their first 24-hour event.

Early Bird entries close 31 August, so now is the time to get your team together and lock it in.

Event Details

Date: 5–6 December 2026
Location: Eildon, Victoria
Duration: 24 Hour + Half Course
Team Size: 2 Person, 4 Person

Enter Now

See you in Eildon!

Mountain Designs Hells Bells Delivers a Wild Sunshine Coast Adventure

The 2026 Mountain Designs Hells Bells Adventure Race delivered one of the most spectacular editions of the race yet, with teams racing through more than 120 kilometres of ocean, coastline, mountain bike trails, bush navigation and the Maroochy River across the Sunshine Coast.

Starting from Mudjimba on Saturday morning, Hells Bells teams were immediately thrown into an optional ocean kayak leg around Old Woman Island, with a three-hour time credit on offer for teams willing to take it on.

And plenty did.

Conditions were challenging enough to make the paddle a genuine adventure. Getting off Mudjimba Beach was only half the battle, with some impressive skills — and perhaps a little luck — required to get the kayaks safely back onto the beach again.

It proved a spectacular way to start 24 hours of racing and was also the first Hells Bells where teams brought their own kayaks. It was a fun experiment and something Wild&Co is keen to hear more feedback about — would teams like to see more BYO kayak legs in future races?

From the ocean, teams headed north on foot along an incredible 10km coastal leg towards Coolum, using beaches, local paths and the coastline before reaching their bikes.

The beach trekking and coasteering was a highlight, with teams rock-hopping their way around the spectacular Coolum coastline and getting through at just about the right time before the incoming tide made things considerably more interesting.

From Coolum the race changed character completely.

Hells Bells teams faced a 60km mountain bike leg through Coolum, Eumundi, North Arm and Yandina before reaching Parklands, where the real navigational challenge began.

The 12km Parklands trekking and navigation leg gave teams nine checkpoints to choose from, with six required and each additional checkpoint worth a one-hour time credit.

It was here that good navigation really began to separate the field. Route choice, accuracy and knowing when to keep hunting — or when to cut your losses and move on — became every bit as important as outright speed.

That decision-making was echoed by Fairy Bells winners Wild Hearts & Dirty Boots, who described adventure racing as being “as much about making smart decisions as it is about going hard” after choosing which bonus checkpoints were worth chasing.

Fairy Bells took teams on its own substantial adventure of around 80–90km, sharing the Coolum coastline, Parklands navigation and Maroochy River sections with the full race. The Fairy Bells Parklands leg required at least four of nine checkpoints, with additional checkpoints again earning one-hour credits.

For many teams, one of the most memorable parts of the weekend came much later.

After returning from Parklands via Bli Bli, teams launched onto the Maroochy River for an 8km kayak around the river mouth.

For those arriving in the early hours, it was sublime.

Competitor Sonny Kemp described starting the paddle beneath “a magical starlit sky and crescent moon”, before spectacular pre-sunrise colours reflected across the glassy river and the sun appeared as teams approached the landing.

Fairy Bells racer Stacey Mulcahy Shaw described the river as “alive”, with stingrays and fish beneath the kayaks, prawns jumping from the water and wildlife appearing throughout the night.

It was exactly the sort of experience Hells Bells is designed to create.

Not Known Takes Hells Bells Victory

At the front of the full Hells Bells field, Not Known took the overall victory and Premier Mixed category win.

Primal finished second overall and first Male team, with Chatter with a Chick taking third overall and second Premier Mixed. Capital AR followed in fourth, while Mountain Designs Wild Women produced another strong performance to finish fifth overall and take the Female category victory.

The quality of the field was reflected by seventh-time Hells Bells racer Trent Raddatz, whose Chatter with a Chick team finished third overall. He described the race as another “world class event showcasing some of the best spots on the Sunshine Coast.”

Team Not Known

Scrambled Legs Wins Fairy Bells

In Fairy Bells, Scrambled Legs took the overall victory and Male category, ahead of Mind the Gap, who won the Mixed category.

The Sheep Whisperers & Their Chaperone finished third overall, while Wild Hearts Dirty Boots were the first Female team and ninth overall.

For many competitors, however, simply reaching the finish line was the biggest result of the weekend.

Balance MTB Skills Coaching shared the story of a stick going through four spokes and snapping a tubeless valve at around 11pm. After managing to repair the bike, father and son continued through the night and achieved their goal of finishing their first adventure race together.

“I genuinely (and surprisingly) had a great time doing Hells Bells,” they wrote afterwards.

That mixture of problem solving, persistence and shared adventure is exactly what makes the event what it is.

As Fairy Bells winner Stacey Mulcahy Shaw put it:

“Another adventure in the books. Sore, scratched up, sleep deprived... and pretty bloody pleased.”

Legs are scrambled

Thanks To Mountain Designs

A huge thank you to Mountain Designs for continuing to support Hells Bells and adventure racing in Australia.

Mountain Designs has been part of this event for many years, and their support helps us continue creating challenging, memorable races that take teams into some incredible parts of the Australian landscape.

We also want to thank every volunteer, official, photographer, safety crew member, land manager, community member and supporter who helped make the weekend happen.

And most importantly, thank you to every team that turned up and threw themselves into the adventure.

On Track Meals Joins The Adventure

We were also stoked to welcome On Track Meals to Hells Bells for the first time.

Teams had the opportunity to try their Australian-made adventure meals at registration. Unlike traditional freeze-dried meals, On Track Meals are fresh, ready-to-heat meals with a three-year shelf life — making them a particularly interesting option for adventure racing, bikepacking, camping and expeditions.

Hells Bells competitors can check out the range at:

https://www.ontrackmeals.com

Use discount code WILD&CO when ordering.

Thanks to On Track Meals for supporting the event and feeding some hungry adventure racers. We’re looking forward to having them involved with Wild&Co for the remainder of 2026.

For Wild&Co, Hells Bells once again demonstrated what makes adventure racing special: not simply covering kilometres, but discovering places, solving problems, making decisions when tired and sharing experiences that are difficult to replicate anywhere else.

Ocean paddling, rock hopping, mountain biking, difficult navigation, wildlife encounters and a sunrise paddle on the Maroochy River.

That was Hells Bells 2026.

What’s Your Next Adventure?

If Hells Bells has you wondering what’s next, there’s plenty more adventure racing ahead.

Step up to another Wild&Co 24-hour race and take on a completely different course, landscape and challenge — with GeoQuest, Top Dog 24, Buckley’s 24 and Terra Nova 24 all ahead on the calendar.

Or, if you’re new to adventure racing — or know someone who should give it a crack — our Explore Adventure Race Series is the perfect place to start. Six hours of trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and navigation, raced in pairs and designed to be achievable for first-timers while still giving experienced teams a proper race.

Explore the full Wild&Co event calendar and choose your next adventure:

www.wldnco.com

Hells Bells / Fairy Bells 2026 Bike Drop

You will need to drop your mountain bikes AND Box A at a point on the course prior to the race. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to do this.

It is approximately 10–12km and a 10–15 minute drive from the bike drop to Race HQ, and you need to have completed the bike drop before race briefing. DON’T FORGET!

If it is easier for your team, one team member can drop all of the team’s bikes and Box A.

The bike drop will be open to receive bikes between 0700–1000 ONLY. You must drop your bikes between these times. Not earlier, not later.

The area is quite small, so please be patient and follow the instructions from event officials.

Bike Drop Location:

Jack Morgan Park
Park St
Coolum Beach

Google Maps Location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wrm86nZHK9uX9pBh9

Ocean Kayak – It’s On!

We’ve been watching the conditions all day and the ocean kayak is on!

Conditions are looking pretty good. There will be a little chop on the water and a few decent waves on the launch and landing, but we’re confident that if you’re comfortable being in the ocean, it’s a pretty good day to have a go.

Ocean Kayak – Helmet Is Mandatory

Please note that a helmet is mandatory for the ocean kayak leg.

This can be your bike helmet, so DON’T LEAVE IT WITH YOUR BIKES AT THE BIKE DROP!

Parkrun

There is a parkrun at Race HQ at 7am. They should be all clear by the time registration opens at 8am, but maybe don’t race to get here!

Live Tracking!

The live tracking site is almost...live!

Click through to the link below and share it with your family and friends:

Live Tracking:
www.wldnco.com/live

The 2026 Hells Bells 24 Information Kit is now live!

Everything you need to know before race weekend is now available, including course overview, schedules, mandatory gear, logistics, maps and Race HQ information.

Download the Information Kit here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r338Vut7PxBr_B5j3RQ4hVHxYKEVhJay&usp=drive_fs

We'll be sharing more race updates throughout the week, so keep an eye on your inbox and our social channels. We can't wait to see everyone on the start line.

HELLS BELLS 2026 PREVIEW → An Ocean Start, Hills & Plenty of Adventure

Plan B kayak at Hells Bells 2024 – let’s hope conditions allow for an epic ocean journey in 2026!

With 80+ teams already signed up, Hells Bells is shaping up for another big year on the Sunshine Coast.

And this year, we’re planning something a little different.

AN OCEAN START

Conditions permitting, Hells Bells will begin on the ocean.

There’s an island sitting just offshore that we’ve been looking at for years, waiting for the right race and the right opportunity to include it. This year, we’re hoping to finally make it happen.

Of course, the ocean will have the final say. We’ll make the call based on conditions closer to race day, but if everything lines up, expect a memorable start to 24 hours of racing.

WHAT TO EXPECT

From there, expect a proper Hells Bells course.

There’s a long bike leg with plenty of hills, some fantastic and challenging navigation, and a mix of familiar Hells Bells country and plenty of new trails.

Being based on the coast means there will be some urban travel along the way, but don't mistake that for an easy race. You’ll get wet. You’ll get muddy. And there’s plenty of proper adventure packed into the course.

You can expect fantastic paddling through the turquoise waterways surrounding Race HQ, some world-class mountain bike trails, and even a few opportunities to stop at a cafe along the way if you’re racing with the right priorities.

We’ve also found some excellent coastal trekking and coasteering that will give GeoQuest and Terra Nova down south a run for their money.

All up, it’s shaping up as a varied, challenging and very Sunshine Coast edition of Hells Bells.

CONDITIONS ARE LOOKING GOOD

The early weather predictions are currently looking very good for race weekend.

That said, it’s August and the Sunshine Coast can still bite. If the westerlies kick in, particularly for a late-race paddle, expect it to get cold. Come prepared.

INFORMATION KIT DROPS THIS WEEKEND

The full Hells Bells Information Kit will be released over the weekend with all the gory details you need to get ready for race day.

And if you’ve been thinking about racing but haven’t entered yet, now is the time.

80+ teams are already in. Come and join them for 24 hours of adventure on the Sunshine Coast.

ENTER HELLS BELLS 24 →

Explore Gold Coast Postponed Due to Trail Conditions

After monitoring the weather and inspecting conditions, we've made the difficult decision to postpone this weekend's Explore Gold Coast.

Although the rain is expected to ease, the mountain bike trails have already received significant rainfall and are simply too wet to use responsibly.

Our priority is always to deliver a safe, enjoyable adventure race, but we also have a responsibility to protect the trails and respect the incredible work of the local trail builders and volunteers who have created and maintained them. Sending more than 100 riders across these trails in their current condition would cause unnecessary damage, and that's not something we're prepared to do.

The overnight rain has also left Currumbin Creek heavily discoloured following the recent rainfall, meaning conditions are well below the standard we want competitors to experience.

We're now working on a new date in mid-August and will confirm it in the coming days.

What This Means for Your Entry

All entries will automatically transfer to the new date.

If the new date doesn't suit your team, you'll be able to:

• Transfer to another Explore event.

• Receive a full event credit for future use.

Our Commitment

The course is ready. Maps are printed. Race packs are packed.

We simply need conditions that allow us to deliver the kind of adventure race that Explore Gold Coast deserves.

We know this is disappointing, especially after all the training and preparation you've put in, but postponing now means we can deliver a far better experience in a few weeks' time while also protecting the local trail network.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

We'll announce the new date as soon as it's confirmed and look forward to seeing everyone on the start line in August.

Explore Gold Coast 2026 Information Kit

INFO KIT: Important Documents

It's essential that you carefully read the information pack (click the image above or the link below) which includes all the important information you need, including the mandatory gear list. If you have questions please ask.

• Information Pack
• Mandatory Equipment

Volunteers Needed

We'd love a little extra help on the weekend, it's not hard, and heaps of fun. Best of all, if you volunteer we'll give you free entry to a similar event. Please email Chris at hello@wldnco.com if you can. Much appreciated!

TOP DOG 24 LOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT: GOOGONG!

After three years based out of Stromlo, Top Dog 24 is heading east.

In 2026, headquarters moves to Googong, opening the door to an entirely new playground of lakes, rivers, forests, ridgelines and intricate navigation.

For competitors, it means easy access from Canberra, the South Coast and Sydney, plenty of accommodation options, straightforward logistics, and more time spent racing and less time travelling.

For us, it unlocks huge new areas packed with route choice. It gives us access to lakes, forests, ridgelines and remote bushland, allowing us to create a course with genuine navigation challenges across every discipline. Expect fast trails, technical route choices and the kind of decision-making that can make or break your race.

We'll keep the exact course under wraps for now, but the region gives us access to some incredible landscapes, including the Molonglo corridor, the waters of Lake Googong, and an extensive network of forestry roads, management trails and bush tracks.

Top Dog 24 has always been about finding that sweet spot between serious adventure racing and a great weekend away with your mates. Googong delivers both.

Whether you're chasing a podium, tackling your first 24-hour race, or simply looking for an epic weekend of adventure, we think you're going to love what we've found.

Early Bird entries close on 30 June, so now's the time to lock in your team and start planning.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 10-11 October 2026
Location: Canberra, ACT, Australia
Duration: 24 hour event
Team size: 2 person, 4 person

See you in the Googong!

IMPORTANT: GEOQUEST 2026 POSTPONED – WEATHER UPDATE

After extensive consultation with Forestry, National Parks, Emergency Services and our core logistics team, we have made the difficult decision to postpone GeoQuest 2026.

Over the past 24 hours, the region has received significant additional rainfall on top of what has already been an exceptionally wet year. The river is currently at flood level and conditions throughout the course area have deteriorated further.

During recent course inspections, we encountered access issues across many trails and roads, although these were still considered manageable at the time. Since then, continued heavy rainfall has further impacted the course area and significantly reduced our confidence in both course access and emergency response capability.

During our most recent river inspections, conditions and hazards were assessed and considered manageable. However, overnight flash flooding means river conditions may now have changed substantially.

While adventure racing often involves challenging conditions, our primary concern is ensuring appropriate emergency access and response capability across the entire course area. Based on current conditions, and even assuming a period of improved weather, we are not confident that emergency access throughout significant parts of the course can be maintained to the standard required for an event of this scale.

With further rainfall forecast in the coming days, we do not believe we can deliver the safe, high-quality GeoQuest experience that teams expect and deserve.

We wanted to make this decision as early as possible to give teams and volunteers the maximum opportunity to adjust their plans. While conditions may improve, we do not believe there is currently a realistic pathway to delivering the event to the standard teams expect and deserve.

We are currently exploring alternative dates and formats and will provide a further update as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience while we work through those details.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of GeoQuest and the adventure racing community.

JOIN THE WILD&CO TEAM – LOGISTICS MANAGER

Wild&Co is looking for a Logistics Manager to help lead the operational delivery of our adventure races and outdoor events across Australia.

This is a hands-on role responsible for logistics planning, transition area operations, staffing coordination, equipment movement and on-ground event delivery.

The role involves travel and approximately 50 days per year centred around event delivery across Australia, including pre-event setup, race delivery and pack down.

The position is flexible and can be based anywhere in Australia, although South East Queensland or Sydney-based applicants may be advantageous due to the current event calendar.

Key responsibilities include:
• Developing logistics and safety plans
• Coordinating vehicles, equipment and transport requirements
• Managing transition area operations and equipment movement
• Coordinating logistics staff and volunteers
• Leading operational problem solving during events
• Supporting safe and professional event delivery

We’re looking for someone who is:
• Highly organised and reliable
• Practical and resourceful
• Calm under pressure
• Comfortable leading teams and solving problems
• Physically capable of setup and logistics work
• Willing to travel and work weekends

Experience in outdoor events, logistics, emergency services, operations, project management or endurance sports would be highly regarded.

This role would suit someone looking to become a key part of a growing adventure events business, with the opportunity to expand responsibilities over time as Wild&Co continues to grow.

Download the full Position Description here: POSITION DESCRIPTION

To express interest, send a short introduction and relevant experience to:
chris@wldnco.com

Explore Sunshine Coast Delivers — Gold Coast Up Next

Team Muckommy doing their first adventure race and winning the half – love these smiles!

The Explore Series headed to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast over the weekend, delivering fast racing, close competition, and a course built around waterways, coastal trails, and muddy MTB terrain.

Racing centred around Lake Edge Park, with teams taking on a dynamic mix of trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking across the Mooloola and Maroochy trail networks. 

Course Overview

Teams opened with a fast lake lap, collecting checkpoints in any order across parkland and public trails before heading onto the water for a technical kayak section around the lake system. 

The race then shifted into the Mooloola National Park trail network, where fast-moving MTB legs rewarded clean navigation and efficient teamwork. The Maroochy Conservation Area trekking stage added another layer of route choice, with optional off-trail movement creating separation throughout the field. 

Full Course Winners

Mic Ken Oath claimed the overall Full Course victory, stopping the clock in 2:28:49 after a consistent performance across every leg.

Category Winners:

Male: Mic Ken Oath – 2:28:49
Female: The bush sisters – 3:01:32
Mixed: Flirt with the Dirt – 2:36:49
Junior: Out There Wandering – 2:55:35

Half Course Winners

Muckommy took out the Half Course overall in 1:49:18, leading a strong field of developing and first-time teams.

Category Winners:

Male: Death before DNF – 2:07:16
Female: We Are the Wilderpeople – 2:59:14
Mixed: Muckommy – 1:49:18

Explore Gold Coast Up Next

Full results are here > RESULTS

The Explore Series now heads to the Gold Coast for the next round of racing.

Known for fast-moving courses, accessible terrain, and close competition, Explore Gold Coast continues the 2026 series with another race designed for both first-time teams and experienced racers alike.

With a mix of trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, and navigation, the event delivers the signature Explore format in one of Australia’s best outdoor racing locations.

Whether you're returning after Sunshine Coast or lining up for your first Wild&Co event, Explore Gold Coast is set to deliver another fast and enjoyable day of racing.

Entries are open > ENTER NOW

Thanks to all racers, volunteers, photographers, and supporters who made Explore Sunshine Coast possible. We’ll see you on the Gold Coast.

The next chapter of Wild&Co adventure racing begins now.

Today we’re officially launching two major adventures for 2027 — Terra Nova 24 and The Legend Expedition Race.

Both events are heading into entirely new terrain for Wild&Co, with course planning, scouting and exploration already underway as we begin shaping two very different race experiences.

At this stage, details are intentionally light. Every Wild&Co course starts long before race day — with maps spread across tables, route ideas scribbled in notebooks, satellite imagery, scouting trips and countless “what if” conversations. The process has already begun.

What we can say now is this:

Both races will explore landscapes we’ve never raced through before.

Both will demand strong navigation, adaptability and teamwork.

And both are being built from the ground up as true adventure racing experiences.

Terra Nova 24 – 2027

Terra Nova returns in 2027 with a brand-new course set in remote and unraced terrain.

Designed as a full-scale 24hr adventure race, Terra Nova combines endurance racing, navigation and team strategy across a demanding course featuring trekking, mountain biking, paddling and navigation through diverse landscapes.

Course planning is already underway, with the event set to explore entirely new terrain for Wild&Co. Teams can expect a challenging and immersive race experience built around route choice, flow and adventure.

Terra Nova continues to establish itself as one of Australia’s premier 24hr adventure races — equally suited to experienced teams chasing performance and newer racers looking to step into longer-format racing.

Entries are now open.

The Legend Expedition Race 2027

The Legend heads west in 2027.

Western Australia will provide the backdrop for the next edition of Australia’s premier expedition race, with vast landscapes, remote wilderness and huge horizons shaping the next chapter of The Legend.

Stretching from rugged coastline to granite ranges, ancient forests and remote outback country, Western Australia offers one of the largest and most diverse expedition racing canvases in the country.

Course planning and exploration are already underway, with teams set to face a demanding multi-day journey involving trekking, mountain biking, paddling and advanced navigation across spectacular and remote terrain.

For 2027, The Legend also introduces Super Early Bird pricing — rewarding teams who commit early to the expedition ahead.

Entries are now open.

We’ll share more details, course insights and planning updates for both races as the journey develops.

EXPLORE SUNSHINE COAST 2026 INFO KIT

INFO KIT: Important Documents

It's essential that you carefully read the information pack (click the image above or the link below) which includes all the important information you need, including the mandatory gear list. If you have questions please ask.

• Information Pack
• Mandatory Equipment

Volunteers Needed

We'd love a little extra help on the weekend, it's not hard, and heaps of fun. Best of all, if you volunteer we'll give you free entry to a similar event. Please email Chris at hello@wldnco.com if you can. Much appreciated!

Northern Beaches Delivers Standout Racing — Explore Sunshine Coast Up Next

Adventure racing returned to Sydney’s northern beaches with the 2026 Explore Northern Beaches event, setting the tone for the next stop in the series on the Sunshine Coast — with entries still open.

Teams took on a fast, technical course around Lake Narrabeen, combining trail running, kayaking, and mountain biking in a tightly contested day of racing.

Course Overview

Competitors opened with a fast-flowing lake lap, collecting checkpoints in any order across public trails and parkland.

The kayak leg tested efficiency and decision-making, with teams required to collect checkpoints in sequence while navigating the waterway.

The race finished in the hills of Mt Narra, where climbing legs, technical trails, and optional bonus checkpoints created separation across the field.

Full Course Winners

Hardtale claimed the overall win with a standout performance, finishing in an adjusted time of 10:39:00.

Category Winners:

• Male: Hardtale – 10:39:00

• Female: WTF (Where’s the Finish?)

• Mixed: MJ Operation Escalation – 11:14:00

• Junior: Run & Roll

Half Course Winners

Giraffes on the Run took out the overall Half Course win, continuing the strong showing from junior teams in the Explore Series.

Sunshine Coast Up Next

The Explore Series now heads north to the Sunshine Coast, with racing based from Lake Edge Park.

Set around waterways, trails, and coastal terrain, the Sunshine Coast event offers fast, accessible racing — making it a perfect opportunity for teams to sharpen their navigation, transitions, and teamwork ahead of Hells Bells Adventure Race.

With entries still open, teams are encouraged to secure their spot and continue their progression through the Wild&Co racing pathway.

Enter The Sunny Coast Race Now

BMC-MMI Claim Victory After Epic Murray River Expedition at Wild&Co Legend 2026

Dark Sky’s

“500 kilometres following the Murray River by kayak, bike and foot under some of the darkest skies in the Southern Hemisphere, navigating day and night using only map and compass. You choose if and when you sleep, rest and eat.

If you’ve ever wanted to test yourself or even just dip your toe in expedition racing — don’t hold back. It’s never too late and you won’t regret it.”
— Morgan Cull, BMC-MMI

BMC-MMI

After four days of expedition racing across more than 500 kilometres of South Australian river country, BMC-MMI claimed overall honours at the 2026 Wild&Co Legend Expedition Race, finishing ahead of Wild Yaks powered by Holy Guacamole in second place and Happy Wanderers in third after a demanding and strategic journey along the Murray River corridor.

Hosted along one of the world’s great rivers, this year’s Legend Expedition Race challenged teams to travel almost the entire South Australian length of the Murray River by foot, bike and kayak through remote landscapes, agricultural country and long overnight navigation stages that demanded patience, teamwork and resilience.

A Journey Begins at the Border

On Sunday 19 April teams boarded buses and travelled to the edge of the state where the Murray River crosses into South Australia. There, they stepped into the river and began a journey that would carry them across almost the entire length of the river within the state before finishing in Murray Bridge several days later.

For many teams the opening 30 kilometre paddle was already the longest they had ever completed. Later stages extended to 50 kilometres and then 75 kilometres on the water, turning early milestones into stepping stones as the expedition unfolded and confidence grew across the field.

Across more than six days of racing, teams navigated continuously through day and night stages where decisions about sleep, route choice and pacing shaped the outcome of the race as much as speed.

Overall Results

Following review of tracking data and officials’ reports across the course, final placings have now been confirmed.

Overall Podium
1st Overall — BMC-MMI
2nd Overall — Wild Yaks powered by Holy Guacamole
3rd Overall — Happy Wanderers

Full Course – Female
1st Mountain Designs Wild Women
2nd Turbo Turtles
3rd Vortex Divas

Full Course – Mixed
1st Wild Yaks powered by Holy Guacamole
2nd ED og and the JJs
3rd Shanks Pony

Full Course – Male
1st BMC-MMI
2nd Happy Wanderers
3rd Magnetic South Adventure Team

Half Course – Mixed
1st Capital AR
2nd FIGJAM

Half Course – Male
1st Shake and Bake
2nd Top Deck

Half Course – Female
1st Heard before Seen

Across both full and half course categories, the strength of performances reflected the continued growth of expedition racing across Australia and the increasing number of teams progressing along the Wild&Co racing pathway from Explore to 24hr to Expedition.

A Course Built Around the Murray River

Teams travelled more than 500 kilometres along and around the Murray River corridor through Berri, Loxton, Waikerie, Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach and Mannum before finishing in Murray Bridge.

The course combined long river paddles, remote trekking stages, strategic route-choice riding legs and extended night navigation across big South Australian landscapes that showcased a side of the river country unfamiliar to many competitors before the race began.

“Five days and nights of riding, hiking and paddling over 600km along the River Murray under big skies and bigger landscapes — I loved every bit of it.”
— Laura Newton, Mountain Designs Wild Women

“Right as we were getting on the water ALL the sprinklers in the park turned on. It was quite entertaining. We set off into an extremely dark night with barely any moon, but the stars were something else. We saw hundreds of shooting stars — it was spectacular and definitely one of the highlights of the race.”
— Heard before Seen

Wild Yaks powered by Holy Guacamole

Expedition Racing Rewards Smart Teams

Success in expedition racing is never determined by speed alone. It rewards teams who manage fatigue carefully, make good decisions under pressure and continue moving forward together through uncertainty over multiple days on course.

“Expedition racing done right for us means finishing fully ranked, collecting all the checkpoints, making sensible choices, looking after each other, challenging ourselves and having fun. At 62, I have no idea how many more of these I will get to do, but right now, sign me up for the next one.”
— Liz Woodgate, Vortex Divas

First-Time Expedition Racers Stepping Forward

One of the strongest stories from this year’s event was the number of teams and individuals stepping into expedition racing for the first time and successfully completing the challenge.

Teams including Fighting Mongooses, Lost Hogs, Magnetic South, OutThere Wandering, Savages in the Hills and athletes such as Darlene racing as part of The Turbo Turtles all took on the unknown and continued moving forward across one of Australia’s most demanding expedition courses.

“Darlene’s first expedition adventure race — and what an experience. Expedition racing teaches you something new every time.”
— Kathryn Moreland, Turbo Turtles

A Race Built on People

Legend does not happen without community support. The volunteers, logistics crew and friends and families played an essential role in making the event possible, and Lane Wiliam’s work behind the lens captured moments from across the journey that teams will remember long after the race finished.

Thank you also to every team who stood on the start line and committed themselves to the journey. Expedition racing demands teamwork at every stage, and Legend is never something that anyone completes alone.

Moments That Become Race Stories

Every Legend course leaves behind stories that stay with teams long after the finish line, and this year’s journey along the Murray River was no exception.

Those moments included the infamous caltrops that quickly became known as the “prickle highway”, team 13 recording 13 punctures, unexpected sprinklers appearing in the middle of the night, mechanical saves from Goldfish Bike Shop, and even a call from a local farmer checking that teams were not cheating by carrying kayaks. Out on course, small moments quickly become part of expedition racing folklore.

The Legend Continues Around Australia

Legend is not a single race but a journey around the country, with each edition moving to a new landscape and presenting teams with a different kind of expedition challenge.

This year’s South Australian course added another chapter to that journey.

Next, Legend heads west. There has never been an expedition-length adventure race in Western Australia, and this next edition promises to explore an entirely new landscape for teams travelling from across Australia and beyond.

Dates will be announced soon, and the location will be released before the close of Early Bird entries.

What Comes Next

For many teams, completing Legend becomes a turning point in their adventure racing journey and a stepping stone toward even longer and more complex expedition challenges in the future.

Legend is moving west.

We will see you in Western Australia.

Win Legend. Race Magnificent NZ 2026.

Legend Expedition Race returns in 2026 with a course that follows the spine of the Murray River corridor, delivering one of the most distinctive expedition routes we’ve set yet.

And this year there’s something extra on the line.

The winning team at Legend 2026 will receive a free entry to the Magnificent Expedition Race in New Zealand later this year.

For teams chasing the next level of expedition racing, this is a serious opportunity.

Thinking About Stepping Up To Legend?

Legend sits at the top of the Wild&Co progression pathway:

Explore Series → 24hr+ Series → Legend Expedition Race

Each year we see more teams make the move into expedition racing — and the Murray River course offers a unique entry point into multi-day racing while still delivering a true Legend challenge.

A River-Shaped Expedition

Legend 2026 remains true to its roots as a full expedition challenge:

• 500km+ over six days
• multiple major paddle legs forming the backbone of the course
• a very dry 150km bike leg linking key sections of the route
• extended trekking through classic inland terrain
• several swim sections with carried PFDs
• cooler nights and classic expedition movement under a truely dark sky

This is a different style of Legend.

Less alpine. Less coastal.
More river. More rhythm. Plenty of strategy.

The Murray River system creates a flowing expedition journey across one of Australia’s most iconic inland landscapes — and teams will need to manage pacing, navigation and water carefully across the long sections of the course.

Teams to Watch

The start list already includes a strong mix of returning expedition racers and teams stepping up from Geo-level racing.

We’re excited to welcome back (as well as all the others!):

MMI
E Dog and the JJs
Mountain Designs Wild Women
Vortex Divas
Goldfish

alongside emerging expedition teams including:

Out There Wandering
Losthogs

And one particularly interesting storyline:

Heard before Seen will be using Legend as preparation for their upcoming 1000km Yukon River paddle expeditionlater this year.

Legend continues to be a proving ground.

A New Style of Legend

After coastal, alpine and wilderness editions of the race, Legend 2026 introduces a course shaped by Australia’s inland river systems — a step toward the environments we’re building toward as the expedition journey continues west and then north in future editions.

The Half Course will follow the same backbone route as the full expedition course, sharing the major legs with only a small number of strategic shortcuts.

The Expedition Path Continues

Legend is now in its fourth edition and continues to grow as Australia’s premier expedition-format adventure race.

With 24 teams entered across pairs and fours — including experienced expedition racers, new teams stepping up, and strong local South Australian representation — the 2026 field is shaping into one of the most interesting yet.

We’ve been looking forward to bringing Legend to the Murray River region for a long time.

Now it’s nearly time.

Bring on Legend 2026.

— Chris Dixon
Race Director

Hells Bells 2026 is heading to Mudjimba. And we’re starting in the ocean.

For 2026, Mountain Designs Hells Bells 24hr Adventure Race will start and finish on the foreshore at Mudjimba on the Sunshine Coast — and we’re opening the race with something special.

Ocean kayaking has long been part of the world’s great adventure races.

Now it’s coming to Hells Bells.

Teams will have the option to take on a pro-level opening leg featuring an ocean paddle start, launching straight from the beach. Conditions pending, this may include a beach landing to complete the leg — a proper adventure race beginning.

Teams choosing this option must be confident in:

• ocean paddling conditions

• swimming 50 metres

• completing a deep-water kayak re-entry

Teams can complete this opening leg using single or double:

• sea kayaks

• sit-on-top kayaks

• surf skis or ocean skis

Sit-in kayaks must include spray decks.

Teams may also use Wild&Co supplied kayaks (as used successfully in previous GeoQuest and Buckleys ocean stages), however availability is limited — teams bringing their own craft are unrestricted.

Prefer to stay off the ocean?

No problem. A standard opening leg option for the full course will also be available. Either way, the adventure starts the moment the clock begins.

KEY DETAILS

Date: 8-9 August 2026

Location: Mudjimba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia

Duration: 24 hour event, full and half course

Entries: Open Now!

Early Bird: Ends 30 April 2026

Team size: 2 person, 4 person

LEGEND 2026 INFORMATION KIT IS LIVE!

Legend Expedition Race is a true test of endurance, where participants will cover up to 500 kilometres in six days, using only their own strength, skills and teamwork to complete the course.

INFO KIT: https://drive.google.com/open...

Race headquarters is based in Murray Bridge in the Murray River region of South Australia, with the river itself forming the backbone of the journey through one of Australia’s most distinctive inland landscapes. Following the course introduction we shared a few weeks ago, it’s exciting to see teams beginning to prepare for a very different style of Legend expedition.

Now in its fourth edition it’s exciting to see the way the event continues to develop. Once again we’ve got a line-up of 24 teams across pairs and fours, with a mix of familiar faces returning alongside several first-time expedition racers and a number of local teams stepping onto the start line. After coastal, alpine and wilderness editions of the race, this course provides a taste of Australia’s red dirt interior as we begin looking ahead toward the Northern Territory in 2028.

The Murray River corridor shapes much of this year’s course and brings a stronger focus on paddling than previous editions. Teams should be prepared for several long paddle legs that will form key sections of the journey. While the overall distance remains similar to previous years, there is slightly less elevation gain, with the river system creating a different style of expedition challenge. The Half Course follows the same backbone route as the full course, sharing most major legs with only a small number of strategic shortcuts.

Conditions this year will be different from recent editions. Nights are expected to be cool but generally less consequential than some previous environments, although teams should still plan carefully for extended movement after dark. There are also several swim sections on the course where teams will carry their PFDs. A long bike leg of up to 150 kilometres will link major sections of the course and teams should plan carefully for water management across this section.

It’s going to be a real challenge and it will take teams everything they have to get it done. But the results will truly be worth it in a uniquely Australian setting.

Of course a big thanks goes out to everyone that has entered – this continues to be an exciting stage in the evolution of Legend and we’ve been looking forward to bringing the race to this region for some time. And while we’re focused on delivering this event, this is another important step in the ongoing Legend journey.

Special thanks must go to our sponsors Squirt for their support – it’s very much appreciated. And of course to the team that makes this happen and everyone that’s entered – bring on an awesome event!