2026 APAC Championship

Start Location:
At the Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp, at the end of Finlayson St.   

Course Marking

The course will be marked as follows:

• Blue arrows and tape for the Bike leg

• Red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape for the Run leg

Start times:

Transition Areas:
MTBs and run gear may be dropped off after 06:30 (06:00 for Elites) on Saturday, and all gear must be picked up before 12:30.

Distance: 1.5K (750m lap x2)
Swim Cut-Off: Start time + 50mins

The swim leg commences in waist-deep water, between the end of the jetty and a small buoy. Once swimmers complete two 750m loops in a clockwise direction, keeping all buoys on your right with a series of right hand turns. Once you  have completed two laps swimmers must exit the water by coming up the boat ramp and enter T1 in the car park. 

• Swimmers should spread out along the entire start line with plenty of space, all positions on the start line will be equal.  

• Be aware of the buoys marking the course as indicated on the map – it is up to you to make sure you know where to go.

Transition 1 (T1)

Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp Car Park. Swim > MTB

• The Transition Area will be divided into individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must pre-place your bikes in the designated area. Leave your wetsuit/swim gear in the same area after changing. 

• Team riders must wait for their team swimmer beside your bike and hand over the timing chip here.  

Distance: 30.2K
Elevation: ⬆600m ⬇520m

Cut-Off Time:
MTB cut off after 1 lap = Start time + 2h
MTB cut off at end of MTB = Start time + 3h 10min

Riders exit the TA and proceed along Bay View Cres and then Hurford St (keeping right of the witches hats) before turning  into the singletrack at the 0.6km pt. At the 1.4km pt., riders turn right to commence a 14km singletrack loop along the Golf  Course and Brown Street singletracks. The short course includes 1 lap of this MTB loop, after which you come back past  the turn off but continue straight ahead to ride the final 800m to T2. 

• The Bike leg is marked with blue arrows and blue tape.  

• Riders must remain alert and watch out for course marking at all times as it is a very twisty course and it is easy to get onto the wrong section of track if you do not pay attention and follow the course markings ahead of you.  

• The course is quite technical and includes a lot of loose pea gravel, rocks, obstacles, and logs. There are separate A and  B lines with the A line being more technical and the B line generally being slower but easier.  

• There is a water point opposite the T2 transition area at the 15km point where you may refill your water bottles. Elites (only) can pre-place a water bottle at this point before the race to collect on the way past.

• Slower riders must give way to faster riders by making space for them to pass. Faster riders MUST NOT just barge their way past a slower rider but alert them that you are there and then wait until called past. 

Transition 2 (T2):
Dunsborough Country Club – 18th Fairway. MTB > Run

• The Transition Area will be divided into separate individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must first place your running gear in the designated area. Riders must park their MTB at this same spot at the end of the bike leg. 

• Team runners must wait for their team rider in the designated teams area and transfer timing chip there. DO NOT crowd around the entry to the TA. Team riders are encouraged to take your bikes once you’ve transferred the timing chip.

Distance: 10K (5K lap x2)
Elevation: ⬆170m ⬇170m

Cut-Off Time:  Run cut off after 1 lap = Start time + 4h

Runners must complete 2 laps of the run course: exit T2 and follow the red course markings through the golf course area and along a range of twisting singletracks to join the coastal path at the 2.8km pt. Turn right at the beach for a short sand/rock hop section then climb uphill and away from the coast, running down the dual slalom tracks and past T2 to complete one lap. Repeat the exact same course to complete a second lap and then run through the arch to finish. 

• The Run leg is marked with Red arrows and pink tape.  

• There is one water point on the run course - located on the start of the 2nd loop just past T2 at the 5km pt. Only elite athletes can pre-place hydration/nutrition here but cannot receive any external support (here or anywhere else on the course). 

• Runners must remain alert and watch out for course marking at all times as it is a very twisty course and it is easy to get  onto the wrong section of track if you do not pay attention and follow the course markings ahead of you. 

• The run course is not closed to the public and you may encounter other trail users

Start Location:
At the Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp, at the end of Finlayson St.  

Course Marking
The course will be marked as follows:

• Blue arrows and tape for the Bike leg

• Red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape for the Run leg

Transition areas: MTBs and run gear may be dropped off after 09:00 on Saturday and all gear must be picked up before 15:00

Distance: 750m
Start Time:
11:10 Short Course - Individuals and Relay Teams - COMPETITIVE RACER START
11:13 Short Course - Individuals and Relay Teams - RECREATIONAL START

Wave Starts

We will commence with two wave starts with athletes voluntarily allocating themselves to either the ‘racers’ wave starting at 11:10 or the ‘recreational’ wave starting at 11:13. This is to help people feel comfortable with the mass start and choose a start that suits their ability and confidence. Your race time commences when your wave starts, so the wave start you choose will not influence your overall placing or time.

Each wave start will commence in waist deep water, between the end of the jetty and a small buoy. Once under way swimmers complete a single 750m loop in a clockwise direction, keeping all buoys on your right with a series of right hand turns.  Exit the water at the end of the loop by coming up the boat ramp and enter T1 in the car park.  

• Swimmers should spread out along the entire start line with plenty of space, all positions on the start line will be equal.

• Be aware of the buoys marking the course as indicated on the map – it is up to you to make sure you know where to go.

Transition 1 (T1)
Old Dunsborough Boat ramp car park. Swim > MTB 

• The Transition Area will be divided into individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must pre-place your bikes in the designated area. Leave your wetsuit/swim gear in the same area after changing. 

• Team riders must wait for their team swimmer beside your bike and hand over the timing chip here. 

Distance: 15K
Elevation: ⬆295m ⬇249m

Riders exit the TA and proceed along Bay View Cres and then Hurford St (keeping right of the witches' hats) before turning into the single track at the 0.6km pt. At the 1.4km point, riders turn right to commence a 14 km single-track loop along the Golf course and Brown Street single tracks. The short course includes one lap of this MTB loop, after which you come back past the turn-off but continue straight ahead to ride the final 800m to T2.

• There are no water points on the MTB course

• Riders must remain alert and watch out for course markings at all times as it is a very twisty course, and it is easy to get onto the wrong section of the track if you do not pay attention and follow the course markings ahead of you.  

• The course is quite technical and includes a lot of loose pea gravel, rocks, obstacles, and logs. There are separate A and B lines, with the A line being more technical and the B line generally being slower but easier.  

• Slow riders must give way to faster riders by making space for them to pass. Faster riders MUST NOT just barge their way past a slower rider but alert them that you are there and then wait until called past.

 Transition 2 (T2):
Dunsborough Country Club - 18th Fairway. MTB > Run

• The Transition Area will be divided into separate individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must pre-place their running gear in the designated area. Riders must park their MTB at this same spot at the end of the bike leg.

• Team runners must wait for their team rider in the designated teams area and transfer the timing chip there. DO NOT crowd around the entry to the TA. Team riders are encouraged to take their bikes out of the TA once they’ve transferred the timing chip.

Distance: 5K
Elevation: ⬆85m ⬇85m

Runners exit T2 and follow the red course markings, running trails in the golf course area to start with and then following a range of twisting singletracks through the bush land leading to the beach at the 2.8km pt. Turn right at the beach for a short sand/rock hop section. After leaving the coastline the trail is generally less technical as it climbs away from the coast and descends down the slalom tracks to the finish line. NOTE: Runners must remain on the left hand track during the final descent to the finish line - the right hand track is used by MTB riders!

• The Run leg is marked with Red arrows and pink tape.  

• Runners must remain alert and watch out for course markings at all times as it is easy to get onto the wrong section of  track if you do not pay attention and follow the course markings ahead of you.  

• The run course crosses the MTB course on several occasions - so make sure it is safe to cross before proceeding.

• There will be NO water points along the course. 

• Individuals - remember to put on your run number plate after the MTB leg. 

Start Location:

The start is located on the beach, at the end of Highview Rd. inside the swimming enclosure. This is the same location as the kids’ race in previous years but a different location to the Sprint and Full Distance XTERRA Races. The entire swim is inside the swimming enclosure.

Course Marking

The course will be marked as follows:

• Blue arrows and tape for the Bike leg

• Red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape for the Run leg

Transition areas: MTBs and run gear may be dropped off after 12:30 on Saturday and all gear must be picked up before 17:30.

Distance: 200m

Start Time:
There will be 4 different wave starts to separate the older/stronger kids, from the younger ones:

NOTE: Age categories and start waves are according to your age on December 31st, 2026.

Swimmers in each wave will start inside the designated start enclosure on the beach. After starting, swimmers run into the water and swim across the enclosure, turning left around a large buoy (approx 50m away), then swim parallel to the shore  before turning left around a second buoy (100m away) and then swim back to shore (50m away). After exiting the water, all swimmers run along the beach, up the boat ramp, and then into T1.  

Transition 1 (T1)

Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp Car Park. Swim > MTB

• The TA will be divided into individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must pre-place their bikes in the designated area. Leave your wetsuit/swim gear in the same area after changing.

• MTB gear may be dropped off after 12:30 on Saturday, and swim gear must be picked up before 17:30. Riders must wait for their team swimmer beside their bike and hand over the timing chip here. DO NOT crowd around the entry to the TA.  

• Support crews and parents are NOT permitted to help competitors inside the TA.  

Distance: 6km
Elevation: 100⬆m 60⬇m

Riders exit the TA and proceed along Bay View Cres and then Hurford St (keeping right of the witches hats) before turning into the single track at the 0.6km pt. The course then winds uphill on a mix of single tracks before turning down the popular Firey’s descent at the 3.6km pt, then it's a slight uphill before the dual slalom track that leads you into T2.

• This is a ‘real-deal’ MTB course, on a single track that includes a range of technical features like loose pea gravel, rocks, obstacles, and logs. It is most appropriate for mountain bikes and requires skill to ride. If anyone feels uncertain about a section of the trail then it is 100% OK to walk it and get back on your bike afterward.  

• Slower riders must give way to faster riders by making space for them to pass. Faster riders MUST NOT just barge past slower riders but alert them that you are there and wait until called past.

Transition 2 (T2)

Dunsborough Country Club - 18th Fairway. MTB > Run 

• The TA will be divided into separate individual and team zones (not specific numbered locations). Individuals must pre-place their running gear in the designated area.

• Riders must park their MTB at this same spot at the end of the bike leg.  

• Team runners must wait for their team rider in the designated teams’ area and transfer the timing chip there. DO NOT crowd around the entry to the TA. Team riders are encouraged to take their bikes once you’ve transferred the timing chip.

• Youth A Super Sprint & Kids: Run gear may be dropped off after 12:30 on Saturday and MTB gear must be picked up before 17:30.

Distance: 2.6km
Elevation: 55⬆m 55⬇m

Runners exit T2 and follow the red course markings, up a slight hill on a trail between the fairways before turning right, crossing a fairway, and run back downhill on a single track that weaves between the trees and ultimately into the finish line in the event expo. Well done kids! 

• The run course crosses the MTB course on several occasions - so make sure it is safe to cross before proceeding.  

• There will be NO water points along the course.

• Individuals- remember to put on your run number plate after the MTB leg.

The Groms’ event is designed especially for kids aged under 9yrs (on December 31st, 2026) and includes a similar off-road course to everyone else but is just toned right back to be fun and achievable for little kids. We have ~150+ groms participate each year, and it is always a highlight of the entire weekend to see these juniors having a go!

The entire event is held within very close proximity to the race HQ at the Dunsborough Country Club, and kids are welcome to be supervised/escorted by their parents if needs be.

The XTERRA Groms is for solo competitors only and is a participation-only event therefore, it will not be timed, and no results will be recorded. All finishers will receive a finisher medal after the race.

Start Location:
The start is located on the fairway immediately adjacent to the event expo area on the 18th fairway of the Country Club.

Transition Area:
MTB gear can be dropped off after 16:00 on Saturday, and run gear must be picked up before 17:30. 

Trail Run (800m)
All Groms commence together in a mass start filled with happy enthusiasm. Kids complete a short out and back run on the grassy fairways and MTB tracks before returning to the transition area to pick up their bikes‍

• Keep an eye out for course markings at all times (red arrows and pink tape)
  

Transition 1 (T1)

Dunsborough Country Club - 18th Fairway. Run > MTB

• There will be an area inside T1 that is set aside for the Groms XTERRA so please pre-place your MTB gear (anywhere) in this area. Leave your running gear in the same spot after changing.

• Parents and supporters are not permitted inside the transition area
  

Mountain Bike (1.4K)

Groms then head out on their bikes, up a slight hill on a wide gravel track a short way before doing a sharp right-hand turn to descend back to the finish area on a twisting single track with little roll-overs, loose corners, and lots of fun. Riders continue on their bikes directly through to the finish.

• Slower riders must give way to faster riders by making space for them to pass.  

• Faster riders MUST NOT just barge past a slower rider but alert them that you are there and then wait until called past.

• Riders continue on their bikes directly through to the finish on your bike!

Distance: 38K
Elevation: 650⬆m 650⬇m
Start Time: 07:30

Cut-Off Time:

Runners must have passed the following points by the times listed: 

• 14km mark at Bunker Bay (1st time thru) = Start time+ 2h 25min

• 26km mark at Eagle Bay (2nd time thru) = Start time+ 4h 20min

• 33km mark at Meelup = Start time + 5h 15min

Course Marking
The trail run courses will be marked with red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape

Course Description:
The 38km trail run commences on the Country Club fairways before moving on to some of the local MTB singletrack, which is generally wide and open and provides plenty of opportunity for overtaking runners.

The course then descends to the Meelup Coastal Path and follows this relatively flat and non-technical route path with the odd technical rock feature past Castle Rock, Meelup Beach, and more local landmarks to Pt. Picquet, where you cross the Meelup Beach Rd. The next section of trail through to the Eagle Bay township is slightly more technical but is a hidden gem as it provides extensive views across the coast towards the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and beyond.

On reaching the edge of the Eagle Bay township, runners head along the beach and coastal path to Bunker Bay – which sometimes makes for hard going due to soft sand - and then climb up towards the lighthouse and a stunning route around the Cape (this is our favourite section!). The section around Cape Naturaliste is breathtaking due to the low shrubs and rugged coastal vegetation and sand blowouts – very impressive. Then you descend back to Bunker Bay and retrace your route back to Eagle Bay township.

Runners then turn inland on a wide and quite hilly fire road for approx. 3km that starts off through local bushland and then continues alongside the vines of Wise Winery – seemingly a world away from the coast where you started. At the top of the dirt road, runners turn left and descend on some fast and flowing singletrack towards Meelup before deviating onto the spectacular Whale Lookout loop and its endless views across Geographe Bay.

Runners then cross under Meelup Rd again and return on the flatter Meelup Coastal Path to the 33.4km mark, where you deviate off the trail and negotiate a short section of more technical rock running (and a bit of sand) along the coastal zone for approx. 1.4km before rejoining the coastal path. The course turns right and uphill at the 36.4km point, where you’ll wind along a twisting singletrack through the bushland before re-entering the Country Club to descend to the finish on some fast singletrack.

Waterpoints:

• Castle Rock Rd at 4.6km mark

• Eagle Bay at 9km mark

• Bunker Bay Road end at 14km and 21km marks

• Eagle Bay at 26km mark

• Castle Rock Rd at 34km mark

  
  Recommended Gear List

• First Aid Kit

• Snake Bandage

• Mobile Phone

• Water Container (Soft flask recommended - no cups at water points)

Distance: 21K
Elevation: 320⬆m 320⬇m
Start Time: 08:30

Course Marking
The trail run courses will be marked with red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape

Course Description:
The 21km trail run commences on the Country Club fairways before moving on to some of the local MTB singletrack which is generally wide and open and provides plenty of opportunity for overtaking runners.

The course then descends to the Meelup Coastal Path and follows this relatively flat and non-technical route path with the odd technical rock feature past Castle Rock, Meelup Beach, and more local landmarks to Point Picquet where you cross the Meelup Beach Rd. The next section of trail through to the Eagle Bay township is slightly more technical but is a hidden gem as it provides extensive views across the coast towards the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and beyond (this is our favourite section!).

On reaching the edge of the Eagle Bay township, runners turn inland on a wide and quite hilly fire road for approx. 3kms that starts off through local bush land and then continues alongside the vines of Wise Winery – seemingly a world away from the coast where you started. At the top of the dirt road, runners turn left and descend on some fast and flowing singletrack towards Meelup before deviating onto the spectacular Whale Lookout loop and its endless views across Geographe Bay.

Runners then cross Meelup Rd again and return on the flatter Meelup Coastal Path to the 16km mark. They deviate off the trail and negotiate a short section of more technical rock running (and a bit of sand) along the coastal zone for approx.1.4km before rejoining the coastal path. The course turns right and uphill at the 19.3km point, where you’ll wind along a twisting singletrack through the bushland before re-entering the Country Club to descend to the finish on some fast singletrack.

Waterpoints:

• 4.6km at Castle Rock Rd

• 9km at Eagle Bay Village

• 17km at Castle Rock Rd

Recommended Gear List

• First Aid Kit

• Snake Bandage

• Mobile Phone

• Water Container (Soft flask recommended - no cups at water points)

Distance: 10K
Elevation: 130⬆m 130⬇m
Start Time: 08:45 

Course Marking

The trail run courses will be marked with red arrows and pink surveyors’ tape 

Course Description:

The 10km course is similar to the 21km but misses the loop north of Meelup beach: Once under way runners follow the red course markings through the golf course area and along a range of twisting singletracks to join the coastal trail at the 2.8km pt. Turn left to follow the coastal trail past Castle Bay (and water pt.) to the southern end of Meelup Beach at the 5.3km pt.

Upon reaching Meelup Beach 10km runners basically do a U-turn and run back along the rocky and sandy foreshore for 2km and rejoin the coastal trail at the Castle Rock outcrop. Continue back along the coastal trail, including a second short beach section, and follow the markings as they leave the coast and climb uphill to the country club trails and into the finish line in the expo area.

Waterpoint:

4.6km at Castle Rock Rd.