Confirmed 2025 event dates: Friday 15th – Monday 18th August.
Entries will open in mid – late October.
“My mind has been blown. The run was bloody amazing…it has changed my life... I’ve never done a trail run before and it was out of this world!” – 2023 participant
Provisional schedule for 2025 as below (dates are confirmed – stages and times tbc):
Thursday 14 August 2025
All day | Competitors arrive and airport shuttle operates |
4:30pm | Mapping app help session – at the Mercure |
5:00pm – 6:00pm | Happy Hour drinks and chance to chat with the Race Director – at Mercure Alice Springs |
6:30pm onwards | Dinner and drinks available at Mercure Alice Springs (user pays – bookings recommended) |
That night | Recommended accommodation is at The Mercure or Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
Friday 15 August 2025
All morning | Competitors arrive and airport shuttle operates |
11:00am – 3:00pm | Registration at The Mercure |
3:00pm | Race Briefing and Official Welcome at The Mercure |
4:30pm/5:20pm | Malbunka / Namatjira buses depart Discovery Parks / Mercure to start line at the Telegraph Station |
5:30pm | Malbunka START: Stage 1 – Old Telegraph Station |
6:10pm | Namatjira START: Stage 1 – Old Telegraph Station |
7:30pm/8:30pm | Buses ferry runners from the finish line at the Mercure to Discovery Parks |
That night | Recommended accommodation is at Mercure or Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
Saturday 16 August 2025
5:40am/6:20am | Malbunka / Namatjira buses depart Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start lines |
6:40am | START: Malbunka Stage 2 – Simpsons Gap |
8:00am | START: Namatjira Stage 2 – Standley Chasm |
1:30pm | Buses depart Standley Chasm (finish line) to return runners to Alice Springs |
That night | Recommended accommodation is at The Mercure or Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
6:30pm onwards | Event BBQ dinner at The Mercure followed by Presentations for Stage 1 and 2 |
Sunday 17 August 2025
5:35am / 5:45am | Competitor Buses depart Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start lines (Namatjira ‘slower-half’ of the field). |
6:00am / 6:10am | Competitor Buses depart Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start lines (Malbunka runners) |
6:50am / 7:00am | Competitor Buses depart Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start lines (Namatjira ‘faster-half’ of the field). |
7:20am | START: Malbunka Stage 3 – Birthday Waterhole turn-off |
7:30am | START: Namatjira Stage 3 – Birthday Waterhole Rd (slower half of field) |
8:50am | START: Namatjira Stage 3 – Birthday Waterhole Rd (faster half of field) |
from 1:00pm | Shuttle buses operate to take runners from Standley Chasm (finish line) to The Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
7:00pm | Presentations for Stage 3 on the grass at the Mercure (and online) |
That night | Recommended accommodation is at The Mercure or Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
Monday 18 August 2025
5:00am | Malbunka bus departs Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start line |
5:40am | Namatjira buses depart Mercure / Discovery Parks Alice Springs to the start line |
7:00am | START: Malbunka Stage 4 – Orche Pits |
7:30am | START: Namatjira Stage 4 – Counts Point turn-off |
1:00pm – 4:15pm | Shuttle buses depart Ellery Creek Big Hole (finish line) to take runners back to Alice Springs – Mercure / Discovery Park |
6:00pm | Official Event Presentation dinner at The Mercure |
That night | Recommended accommodation is at The Mercure or Discovery Parks Alice Springs |
*Please note start times may change pending final bus arrangements and weather conditions (earlier if it is hotter)
Tuesday 19 August 2025 – departure day
Competitors depart or embark on further exploration of Australia’s Red Centre.
Airport shuttles operate taking people back to the airport.
![](https://rapidascentmedia.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/runlarapinta/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/25121756/RL_2023_stage4_finish294.jpg)
“This fantastic event challenged me greatly, but also provided so much enjoyment and amazing scenery… I met some amazing people, including the event staff! I still don’t think it has sunk in yet what I achieved… :-)” Afy Afrouz