eNewsletter 214 - Monday 29th December, 2025
G'day fellow rogainers,
All the best for the holiday season from the team at
In this newsletter
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2025 Presidents Ramble
December 2025 As we wind down from a big year of rogaining, it's time to sit back and reflect on how that all went and see what we've learned along the way. From where I sit, I think we've done a lot of things right and we're learning from the things that didn't go our way. It was a big year by the numbers. For the same number of events as 2024, we had just over 200 more participants this year, thanks to some very well attended events – the Minigaine at Kurnell, the Paddy Pallin at Belanglo and the Socialgaine at Woronora. It would have been bigger had we not had to cancel the Spring Challenge, but my heartfelt thanks go out to ACTRA for stepping in at short notice to fill the gap in the calendar. It was great to see a bunch of fresh new rogainers stepping up to have a go at setting an event or being involved in the tougher tasks of event delivery. Just as important is the machinery that drives our Association under the covers and I’d like to acknowledge some of the achievements and downright hard work that might not have been obvious:
We've got a few cracking events lined up for next year. Julian Ledger will be presenting the Explorergaine at Mt Victoria, celebrating the pioneers who crossed the mountains and exploring the first routes (known to Europeans) off the mountains, dating back to 1813. Also, Ted Woodley is back with an innovative twist on the Lane Cove series – this time with ferries and arguably the most scenic harbour island hash house location in the world. Not one to be missed. And finally, I'm happy to announce (and it will probably not come as a surprise) that this year's Warwick Marsden Award for Volunteering goes to someone who has been involved in every event and gone above and beyond to make sure that all our events are successful - and this year it's our Volunteer Coordinator, Robin Cameron. Robin is also Vice President and her support throughout the past year to all the volunteers, the Committee and to myself has been solid and reassuring. Thanks Robin, you are a true embodiment of the spirit of the Warwick Marsden Award. Thanks for your support this year – have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and see you at the first event in 2025, the Minigaine. Graham |
3-hour Minigaine, Caves Beach, Sun 22nd Feb
For your calendar: add the event date
Entries opening soon The first rogaine of 2026 will be a 3-hour minigaine to be held at Swansea High School (at beautiful Caves Beach) on Sunday 22nd February, just over 90 minutes drive (~140 km) north of Sydney. This event has a solo entry option. The course includes coast, urban and bush areas and extends north over the Swansea bridge to Blacksmiths and Pelican. The bridge opens for maritime traffic on the hour, so see if you can time this right.
Post event snacks and drinks are included in the entry fee. The Hash House will be at the High School. Toilets and drinking water will be available at the school. A range of accommodation can be found in nearby Caves Beach, or at Swansea, Belmont, and at Newcastle. There are playgrounds, coffee shops, open air showers and many opportunities for a dip if it gets warm.
Key info at a glance:
Course times: Sunday 22nd February 2026
Timings of map availability, novice briefing, final briefing and prize givings will be confirmed closer to the event date.
Near Swansea is the (in)famous Reid’s Mistake. A fun name for a rogaine control. To keep up to date with any changes, regularly visit the event page on the website. Note: Participants can be on the course for as long or as little as they wish between 10am & 1pm. Points are deducted for each minute (or part thereof) you return late (after 1pm). All points will be lost if a team or individual has not returned by 1:30pm. Info for novices with advice on what gear to bring and other information can also be found on the website.
Final Instructions Final Instructions containing more event-specific info will be posted on the event page on Monday 16th February. Event related queries can be directed to: admin@nswroganing.org Note that anyone who volunteers at this event will earn reward points towards a future free entry, and that some roles may still allow participation.
"From a bird's eye, my fellow locals Marg & Rob have laid a magnificent course!" |
6-hr Explorergaine, Mt Victoria, Sun 29th March
For your calendar: add the event date Entries opening soon The Explorergaine is the first 6-hour rogaine of the year. It will be held on Sunday 29th March on Mt Victoria and Mt York, situated on the western edge of the Blue Mountains about 1 hour 45 minutes drive (~120 km) west of Sydney. Whilst it is in the Metrogaine slot on the calendar this rogaine will be mostly on bush tracks. The event has a strong historical theme and is also a fundraiser for the Australian Himalayan Foundation#. The course explores the first routes (known to Europeans) off the western side of the Blue Mountains, dating back to the first "discovery" exploration by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in 1813, as well as Cox, Lockyer, and many others as they forged the first roads. There are outstanding views over the Megalong Valley, Hartley and west to the Great Divide. Expect a surprisingly complex choice of bush tracks both close to the Hash House and for the fit and strong down to Hartley Vale. This event has something for everyone. The course setters are planning 50+ checkpoints. Whether you’re a seasoned rogainer or a newcomer looking to explore a new area this is an event steeped in history and not to be missed. The Hash House is at the Mt Victoria Public school which is an excellent venue and has all facilities. Additional school gates will be opened to provide access from different streets.
There is a mix of accommodation available in the Blue Mountains towns and Lithgow, including campgrounds, holiday lets and motels. There is also the Blue Mountains YHA, 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba. Make a weekend of it and stay over. If you come up on the Saturday there are heaps of things to see and do in the mountains. Key info at a glance:
Course times: Sunday 29th March 2026
*There'll be a dual start/finish option on either side of the Great Western Highway, removing the need to cross this major road in a crowd. Timings of pre-event briefings and prize givings will be confirmed closer to the event date. In case there are any late changes, stay up to date by regularly visiting the event page on the website.
Note: Participants can be on the course for as long or as little as they wish between 10am & 4pm. Points are deducted for each minute (or part thereof) you return late (after 4pm). All points will be lost if a team or one of its members has not returned by 4:30pm. Transport options Driving
Carpooling is encouraged to save on petrol and limit the effect of parking on the local community. Parking is available in local streets and the nearby Memorial Park car park. Public transport Train – times subject to confirmation. Sit in the rear carriage:
Info for novices with advice on what gear to bring for a bush event and other information can be found on the website. Team finder service If you need to find a team, enter your details, category and level of competitiveness on the event's team finder page. However there are no guarantees so keep asking around people you already know as well. Help still needed Organiser Julian Ledger, Course Setter Steve McKay and Vetter Ian Brown seek additional volunteers. Roles include flag hanging and collecting and help on the day. If you've been to the Himalaya and experienced the warmth and hospitality of the mountain people who have so little, you'd appreciate the work the Australian Himalayan Foundation does, and we’d love to hear from you. Register at Volunteer for a Job - NSW Rogaining. Final Instructions Final Instructions containing more event-specific info will be posted on the event page after entries close. Event related queries can be directed to: admin@nswroganing.org #The Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) is an independent, nonprofit organisation with DFAT accreditation that works to improve quality of life in remote areas in Nepal, Bhutan and Ladakh. The AHF partners with trusted local organisations to deliver long-term, community-led programs across education, healthcare and the environment. A portion of the rogaine entry fee (we hope $15) will be passed on to the charity. |
3/6hr Ferrygaine, (LCRG VII), Sun 20th Sept
For your calendar: add the event date
This is early notice for what is shaping up to be a truly first-of-its-kind rogaine, so please put it into your calendar now Some thought the legendary LaneCoveRivergaine series# had reached its final stage when we farewelled the river at its mouth (sort of), at the Heads of Sydney Harbour in November 2024 (LCRG VI). But wait, a seventh LCRG is coming in 2026, and promises to be the best of all. As this is expected to be a hugely popular weekend for rogaining and orienteering (yes, we have a warm up orienteering event on the Saturday as well), we encourage you to book your camping/glamping on the Island INDEPENDENTLY as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
Base map thanks to Hamish Mackie LaneCoveRiverFerrygaine (LCRG VII) The LaneCoveRiverFerrygaine is to be held on Sunday 20th September 2026, based at Cockatoo Island, opposite the river's entry into Sydney Harbour. The course will extend north, with controls located from Hunters Hill to Woolwich, and south from Chiswick, to Drummoyne, Five Dock, Lilyfield, Balmain and Birchgrove. There'll be 2 rogaines to choose from:
(The unusual durations and start/finish times are set to fit in with ferry timetables)
Cockatoo Island wharf and entrance What better way is there of spending a Spring day than ferrying around Sydney Harbour as part of a rogaine. Also, the many ferry routes and schedules present numerous course options and much head-scratching. Key info at a glance:
Participants will also need to pay for public ferries (bring your Opal Card), typically $6 for a short trip ($2.50 max for seniors). Travelling on the Mandalay is included in your entry fee. Cockatoo Island The Hash House will be in the Turbine Shop/Convict Workshop on Cockatoo Island, thanks to the Sydney Harbour Trust.
Hash House (Turbine Shop) The Island itself is part of the rogaine, providing intriguing navigational challenges with its multiple levels and complex building and tunnel systems, even though only 600x500 metres in size. It includes a UNESCO World Heritage listed Convict Site, historic dockyard, guided and self-guided tours, two licensed cafes, camping and heritage accommodation. Camping, glamping and apartments Cockatoo Island has excellent facilities for camping and glamping - showers, toilets, kitchen (including fridges), electric BBQs, tables and seating. There are also four historic houses/apartments for rent. Rogainers are encouraged to camp on the Island for the whole weekend (Friday to Sunday) - there is plenty to see and do, or just relax in preparation for the rogaine. If planning to camp you should book glamping accommodation as early as possible before it is booked out by the public – Cockatoo Island camping (Sydney Harbour Trust). Mention in the ‘Special Requests Box’ that you are a rogainer so you will be located with fellow participants.
The Island has two licensed cafés, or rogainers can bring their own food (not alcohol) – there are electric BBQs available.
Glamping tents and eating facilities Ferries Public Ferries There are two public ferry services to the Island:
Use this timetable as a guideline only. Check the website closer to the event because there might be changes by then. Our 'Mandalay' hire ferry To avoid frustrating rogainers with not being able to get on a full public ferry and also upsetting members of the public (and Transport NSW), the Mandalay has been hired for the day from 07:30 to 18:00. The Mandalay, with a capacity of 193 passengers, will shuttle participants to Cockatoo Island before the start, and from the Island after the finish, and operate during the event from Chiswick to Balmain. #The tracing of the Lane Cove River from its source to its Pacific Ocean mouth began in 2015, starting in Pennant Hills and extending to De Burghs Bridge in West Pymble. In 2016, LCR II continued the river’s journey down to Stringybark Creek in Lane Cove. In 2017 LCR III reached Fig Tree Bridge, in 2022 LCR IV made it to Sydney Harbour Bridge, in 2023 LCR V reached the Spit Bridge in Mosman, and in 2024 LCR VI reached Sydney Heads. |
Louise's excellent adventure - an 'Urban Raid'
A trip report contributed by Louise Brooks A few weeks ago, I was visiting Brisbane and saw in the Rogaining Queensland event calendar that Raid Adventures # had organized a 3-hour 'Urban Raid' rogaine on the 5th of December. The event was held around the Brisbane CBD. The details can be found on the website. It was held at night, a good idea for Brisbane at this time of year. I roped in a fellow rogainer, and it also turned out another rogaine/orienteering friend had relocated to Brisbane so we made a team of three. The Hash House was located behind Lang Park. Planning time was 1 hour and the 100 pointer was a challenge to "attempt" a handstand with the Brisbane River in the background. The photo is of Brett & Zoe attempting this while I was the photographer. There were no Navlights or flags. Instead, controls were scored using questions with multiple choice answers. We lost time on two controls; for control 64 we went down the wrong laneway but still found the elephant statue. For control 64, we were trying to locate a statue of William Glasgow, but found a nice wine bar instead. We could have stayed but had to push hard to get more controls around Kangaroo Point, and then had to hustle to get back to the Hash House in time. We were 2 minutes late! It was fun seeing the lights of the City such as Queen St Arcade, Government House, and all the bridges lit up. We ended up with a score of 840 after getting a 40 point penalty. Our team had mixed paces which made it a bit tricky to work out how far we could get in the time. But we did well in the end, covering about 16 to 17 kilometres. I would definitely recommend this event for a 'rogaine' with a difference. Thanks Raid Adventures! Results, map & the Q&A sheet used can be found on the website. #Raid Adventures is a Queensland adventure racing series. Events are normally a mix of trekking, mountain biking, and kayaking, but there are also urban events. Strategy and navigation play a significant role, so many events have a rogaining format. |
Stagger on to the next one!
Contributed by Julian Ledger Just WOW! –Tasmanian (24-hour) Championships winners at the Stagger on Rogaine. Congratulations to the Men’s Under 23 and overall champions Sam Woolford, Euan Best and Jett McComb who clocked up a Staggering 106km with over 4000 metres of climb. Scoring 3500 they collected every checkpoint on the course and were back with just 15 minutes to spare. Second were multi-Australian champions Julie Quinn and Dave Baldwin. Despite it being December, competitors braved sometimes wet and cold weather but were rewarded with stunning scenery. |
A big thanks, & thinking of volunteering in 2026?
We would like to thank everyone who volunteered this year. 142 people helped to run rogaines in 2025 and we would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you! Rogaines can't run without volunteers. It can be a lot of fun and there are lots of opportunities for you to help delivering our rogaines next year. If you could help out at one or two events it would be really appreciated, whether is is picking up controls afterwards or generally assisting with tasks on the day of an event. There is always something to be done and you don't need to be a specialist. Please drop an email to Robin, our Volunteer Coordinator - volunteer@nswrogaining.org, or register online where you'll find a choice of roles to put your hand up for. If unsure just contact Robin. (NSWRA celebrates its volunteers. Supporting our events earns you points toward free entry in a future rogaine. Earn 100 points and receive a free entry voucher. There is a volunteer rewards points table where you can monitor your progress toward a voucher. For more info see the Volunteer Rewards Policy.) |
Public Lands Access Inquiry
Contributed by Julian Ledger The NSW Legislative Council is holding a public inquiry into access restrictions to public lands. Last July, NSW Rogaining made a submission (070 NSW Rogaining Association Inc.pdf) arguing a case for a change in the policy that precludes rogaining from designated wilderness areas. It was one of over 400 similar submissions, plus there were another equal number categorised as short submissions. We didn’t have a big agenda but as our sport is dependent on having access to public land to hold events, we thought it was worthwhile. Also, we are coming up to our 250th event in NSW and wanted to put that on the public record. Rogaining was one of a handful of organisations invited to appear at the first and so far, only day of public hearings held early in December. President Graham Field and Julian Ledger had the opportunity to front up to Parliament House and speak to the submission. Before the hearing they were briefed by Gill Fowler who has accumulated years of experience navigating event applications through National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Forestry Corporation. We are all in her debt. They were on a panel together with Outdoors NSW & ACT and the Australian and NSW Climbing Associations. The hearing was broadcast and recorded in Hansard. Graham tabled a past rogaine map to assist the parliamentarians in understanding the sport. More news to come as the inquiry progresses. |
NSW & ACT 2026 Rogaining CalendarsBelow is the latest info as our 2026 calendars firm up. The dates for two more very important interstate rogaines coming up in 2026 have also been set. Planning an interstate trip? Check out the ARA's National Rogaining Calendar.
In all cases, remember to check the respective websites should there be any changes since some of the events are many months away.
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Thanks for all your support during 2025. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2026 for more amazing rogaining!
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Some useful links |
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About NSWRA: The New South Wales Rogaining Association inc. (NSWRA) is the governing body of the sport of rogaining in the state of New South Wales.
We are incorporated under state law. ABN 15 314 080 648. © 2025 NSW Rogaining Association |