2026 Socialgaine

Ferrygaine

Lane Cove Rivergaine VII

Date

Sunday 20 September 2026

Location

Cockatoo Island

Duration

6½ hours & 3½ hours

Status

Entries open

Entries close 14th September 11:59pm.

Event overview

The first-ever Ferrygaine is to be held on Sunday 20 September 2026, based at Cockatoo Island, opposite the river’s entry into Sydney Harbour. There will also be an orienteering event at Cockatoo Island on Saturday 19 September. This will be an awesome weekend of navigational sport. We encourage participants to make the most of the spectacular location and stay on the Island for the weekend, with catering available too!

This will be the seventh event in the Lane Cove Rivergaine series, which began in 2015.

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. The island itself is part of the rogaine, providing intriguing navigational challenges with its multiple levels and complex building and tunnel systems.

There are two rogaines to choose from:

6½ hour Socialgaine – start at 1000, finish at 1630 (teams of 2-5)
3½ hour Minigaine – start at 1100, finish at 1430 (teams of 2-5 or solo).

The extra half hour on the normal length is to allow for ferry travel and fit in with the public ferry timetables. And it gives everyone time to relax on a ferry in Sydney Harbour on a Spring Day – bliss.

What better way of spending a spring day than ferrying around Sydney Harbour as part of a rogaine. Also, the many ferry routes and schedules present numerous options and much head-scratching. If that’s not unique enough, this ‘socialgaine’ will also have some special features:

A croquet control at Hunters Hill Croquet Club, with your points determined by how many strokes your team takes to score the hoop.
Double points during a nominated hour of the event.
Some controls only available for specific periods.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in a rare rogaine combining land and water elements.

About the Lane Cove Rivergaine series

Everyone thought that the legendary Lane Cove Rivergaine series had reached its final stage when we farewelled the river at its mouth (sort of), the Heads of Sydney Harbour, on 24 November 2024 (LCRG VI).

In 2026 we present the seventh LCRG, and this one promises to be the best of all.

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, LCRG II continued the river’s journey down to Stringybark Creek in Lane Cove. In 2017 LCRG III reached Fig Tree Bridge. In 2022 LCRG IV made it to Sydney Harbour Bridge. In 2023 LCRG V reached the Spit Bridge in Mosman, and in 2024 LCRG VI reached Sydney Heads.

Ferries

Public ferries

There are two ferry services to the Island. For more details on public ferries, click here.

F3 Ferry, Circular Quay to Parramatta (return), capacity 200:
- Circular Quay, Barangaroo, to Cockatoo Island, taking 21 minutes
- thence, Cockatoo Island to Drummoyne, Huntleys Point, Chiswick (12 minutes), followed by multiple stops to Olympic Park or Parramatta, taking 35/65 minutes
- departs every 20 minutes (both directions) between 0930 and 1800, and every 30 minutes outside these hours
F8 Ferry, Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island (return), capacity 400:
- Circular Quay, Balmain, Greenwich Point, Woolwich, to Cockatoo Island, taking 29 minutes
- departs every 60 minutes (both directions)

Private ferry – the ‘Royale’

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 ‘Royale’ ferry has been hired for the day from 0700 to 1800.

The Royale, with a capacity of 220 passengers, will shuttle participants to Cockatoo Island before the start, and from the Island after the finish, and operate during the event from Huntleys Point to Balmain.

Entry fees and inclusions

The adult entry fee is $80 ($60 concession). Participants will also need to pay for public ferries (bring your Opal Card), typically $6 for a short trip, capped at $9.50 for the day ($2.50 max for seniors).

Both rogaines are limited to 450 participants to avoid overcrowding the ferries. As this is expected to be a hugely popular weekend for rogaining and orienteering we encourage you to enter as soon as possible, and book your camping/glamping straightaway to avoid missing out.

Your entry includes:

Up to 6½ hours of adventure at Cockatoo Island and in the surrounds of Sydney Harbour
Map and electronic timing (1 per person).
Exclusive travel on the Royale (ferry chartered by NSWRA for the event)
A sumptuous selection of food and drinks after the event provided by the 1st North Sydney Scouts.

The first 220 registrants for each event will get a ticket on the Royale departing the Island immediately after the start (and get to punch Control 90 on the ferry). The next 100 registrants will be issued with a Boarding Pass for the F3 ferry departing straight after the start also, and the remaining 130 registrants get a Boarding Pass for the F8 ferry leaving 10 minutes later.

So enter as soon as possible to give you the option for the earliest ferry departures. Though there will be controls on the Island that are only active for the morning for teams catching a later ferry – lots of choices.

Course times

6½ hour Socialgaine – start at 1000, finish at 1630.
3½ hour Minigaine – start at 1100, finish at 1430.
Timings of map availability, novice briefing, final briefing and prize givings will be provided in the Final Instructions.

About the location, Cockatoo Island

The event takes place at Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour.

During the 60,000 years prior to European settlement, Cockatoo Island was a meeting place for Sydney’s First Nations peoples, who know it as Wareamah. The Island connects the waterways and homelands of the Wallumedegal, Wangal, Cammeraygal and Gadigal peoples. The area is known as Moocooboola – the “meeting of the rivers” (being the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers).

The Island was a convict gaol (1839-69), shipyard (1857-1911), and educational institution for boys and girls (1871-1911). In 1913, the Island became the official dockyard of the Royal Australian Navy, and during the Second World War served as the main ship repair facility in the southwest Pacific.
It includes a UNESCO World Heritage listed convict site, historic dockyard, guided and self-guided tours, two licensed cafes, camping and heritage accommodation.

Accommodation & facilities

Hash House

The Island has two licensed cafes. It is expected that the cafes will open early on the day of the event to serve coffees.
Toilets at HH
Drinking water at HH

Why you should make a weekend of it and camp on Cockatoo Island!

Cockatoo Island has excellent facilities for camping and glamping – showers, toilets, kitchen (including fridges), electric BBQs, tables and seating. You can bring your own food but not alcohol, note that there are two licensed cafes on the island. We also have catering organised so you can order Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast. There are also four historic houses/apartments for rent.

Reasons to camp include:

Have a fun time with family and friends on an island in the middle of Sydney Harbour, with a rogaine (and orienteering event) included
Cheap accommodation, especially for those who live outside Sydney
Enjoy the company of fellow rogainers, replicating the camaraderie of camping at bush rogaines
Enter a Big Foot Orienteers’ event on the Saturday afternoon as a warm-up and sneak preview of the Island’s layout
For the very keen, you can also complete the permanent orienteering course – Cockatoo Island MapRun Orienteering Course – at anytime during the weekend
Explore the Island’s unique Aboriginal, convict, and ship building history. Taking a guided tour (60 minutes, $20) on ‘Island Highlights’, ‘Convict Prison’, or ‘Shipyard Tales’, or a self-guided audio tour ($10)
Getting the map on Saturday (from 17:30-18:00) and being able to plan your route at your leisure – no need to plan on Sunday morning before the event
You don’t have to wake early on Sunday to get to the Island for registration and maps

Accommodation options

Rogainers should book glamping accommodation as early as possible before it is booked out by the public – link to Cockatoo Island accommodation page (Sydney Harbour Trust). Mention in the Special Requests Box that you are a rogainer so you will be located with fellow participants.

Over two dozen rogainers have already booked glamping tents and camping sites.

Accommodation options and indicative nightly prices are listed below:

NB: NSWRA does not guarantee the accuracy of this information

Camping: Bring your own tent and gear $65 4 campers ($15 additional guest)
Glamping – Basic tent (sleeping mats): $115 2-3 adults (24 tents)
Glamping – Deluxe (stretchers): $169 2-3 adults (20 tents)
Glamping – Deluxe waterfront: $189 2-3 adults (18 tents)
Glamping – Two bedroom waterfront: $389 4-6 guests
Fire Station Studio (historic house/apartment): $335 2-3 guests
Harbour View Apartments: $350 2-5 guests
Garden Riverview Apartment: $350 2-5 guests
Heritage Holiday Houses: $644 8-12 guests

Food for the weekend

1st North Sydney Scouts, under Stu Warren’s leadership, will be providing their usual gourmet food (and ice blocks) after the finish on Sunday afternoon (this is included in your entry fee).

They will also be providing:

Saturday Dinner: $16: Beef and vegetarian nachos, with toasted banana bread and custard for dessert
Sunday Breakfast: $10: Bacon, egg & hash brown roll, and cereal. Vegan/vegetarian bean & hashbrown breaky wrap. Breakfast is available whether or not you camp overnight.

We are collecting food orders for Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast separately from rogaine entries. Link to food order form

Croquet, and a practice session too

Again this LCRG includes a croquet control, this time at Hunters Hill Croquet Club. Each team will be given a mallet and ball and is required to score a hoop, with each member hitting in turn until the hoop is run. Running the hoop in 1 stroke scores 150 points, 2-3 strokes 120 points, and 4+ strokes 100 points.

If you want to hone your skills, and have some fun, two practice sessions are being held on Sunday 23 August, 12:30-14:30 and 14:30-16:30, at Chatswood Croquet Club, 699A Pacific Highway – 300m from Chatswood Station and Albert Street Parking Station (free for first three hours).

This practice could set your team up for an extra 20 or 50 points in the rogaine. Book your places for the croquet here. Cost is $10 and places are limited to 25 people per timeslot.

Safety considerations

Usual mandatory equipment of a whistle, space blanket and compression bandage apply.
Event organisers plan to have a first aid-qualified volunteer on site.
More details to come

Final instructions

These will be released on this event page on 14th September 2026. The final details will include further details on the location, event day, and much more.

In the meantime, you can check out the Learning Centre for advice on what gear to bring, what to expect at the event, and other information.

What is rogaining?

A fun team sport, navigating using map, compass and clues to visit as many checkpoints as possible within the time limit. It’s a “choose your own adventure” experience in outdoor environments where teams explore the course for as much or as little of the allocated time as they like.

Our sport is for all ages and fitness levels, from families walking with small children through to bushwalkers and runners. Rogaining encourages the development of strategy and navigational skills, fitness, and the ability to work in a team.

For more information, check out the Learning Centre.

Team finder

Rogaining is a team sport and a great way to meet new people. If you are looking for a team to join, or would like to start a new team for this event, check out the Team Finder page.