Covering longer distances each day and being more immersed in the landscape – the Malbunka is a more substantial journey appropriate for more experienced (or more determined!) trail runners.
Stage Summary
- Stage 1: 20km around Alice Springs, from the Old Telegraph Station to the Mercure
- Stage 2: 41km from Simpsons Gap to Standley Chasm
- Stage 3: 33km from Birthday Waterhole turn-off to Standley Chasm.
- Stage 4: 34km from Ochre Pits to Ellery Creek Water Hole.
The Malbunka – STAGE 1
| Time and Date: | 5:30pm on 15 August 2025 |
| Start location: | The Old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs |
| Finish location: | The Mercure Hotel |
| Length: | 19.5km. Elevation: 202m up and 209m down. |
| Water points: | Approx 13.5km pt Runners must start with a minimum of 750ml hydration with you |
| Cut off times: | Start time + 2hrs 15min at the water point (13.5km pt) |
| Difficulty rating: | Medium |
Runners start just before sunset and then run through twilight and into darkness for the unique experience of running through the desert at night time, under a universe of stars and the outback world around you. All runners must start with a head torch that you can turn on when darkness descends (at 6:15pm).
The course starts amidst the ghost gums and the original Alice Spring at the Old Telegraph Station north of the township. The course follows a scenic route along some of the running and MTB trails that surround the town, including many spectacular sections providing views over the surrounding ranges as they are illuminated by the sunset light. Continuing into darkness, the stage finishes on the grass at the Mercure Hotel.
These trails are not overly technical (with the exception of a couple of short sections), but they do have a great sense of ‘flow’ and will provide a terrific introduction to the Central Australian terrain you’ll enjoy over the days to come.
The Telegraph Station is just 5km from the centre of Alice Springs and a shuttle bus will operate to the start line.
PUT THE MAPS ON YOUR PHONE: Scan the QR Code above or CLICK HERE.
The Malbunka – STAGE 2
A very challenging but incredibly scenic run that links two of the MacDonnell Range’s most popular (and impressive) landmarks.
| Time and Date | 6:40am on 16 August, 2025 |
| Start location: | Simpsons Gap – 25mins drive from Alice Springs |
| Finish location: | Standley Chasm – 45mins drive from Alice Springs |
| Length: | 41km. 1,300m up and 1,075m down. |
| Water point: | Runners must start with a minimum of 2 lt hydration. WP1 at 16km pt at Mulga Camp. WP2 at 26km pt at the Jay Creek shelter. Runners must depart with a minimum of 3 lt hydration WP3 at the 34km pt at the western end of the ‘High Route’ ridge line. WP3 should be considered as an emergency Water Point only. Max 1lt per runner. |
| Cut off times | Start Time + 5hr45min at Jay Creek WP2 (26km pt) |
| Difficulty rating: | Starts off easy and gradually increases in difficulty. Last 10km is very difficult and technical. |
Stage 2 starts on the dry river bed at picturesque Simpsons Gap. The course can basically be split into two halves, the first half through to Water Point 2 at the 26km point is quite flat and fast, providing comfortable running through open country and nice scenery.
The second half from the 26km point to the finish is a lot harder with some very technical running over rough ground and is significantly slower going than the first half. The course climbs to the top of the Chewings Range ridge line, providing some incredible views across Central Australia, before descending into a rough and scrambly valley that ultimately leads to the finish at the Standley Chasm café. At least the last 10km are very hard and provide slow going for even the strongest athletes.
The landscape, the views and the terrain are all absolutely spectacular from start to finish – this is the jewel stage for many runners.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Competitors please note this is the hardest stage of the event with long rocky sections providing slow going and many ascents that can prove tough in the heat. Please come prepared to embrace everything the course throws at you.
PUT THE MAPS ON YOUR PHONE: The course route can be found here; https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1674511?units=km
This stage uses Larapinta Trail section numbers 2 and 3:
- Section 2 details on the Larapinta Trail website (including maps, trail notes and more) Section 2 fly over video – Simpsons Gap to Jay Creek
- Section 3 details on the Larapinta Trail website (including maps, trail notes and more) Section 3 fly over video – Jay Creek to Standley Chasm
The Malbunka – STAGE 3
A spectacular stage that was first raced in 2021 and is often a highlight for many runners. It covers a very rugged and remote section of the Larapinta Trail, in some ways similar to Stage 2 (but a little bit easier). NOTE – this stage may change for 2025, tbc.
| Time and date | 7:20am on 17 August, 2025 |
| Start location: | Birthday Waterhole track / Red Centre Way road junction – 40mins drive from Alice Springs |
| Finish location: | Standley Chasm – 45mins drive from Alice Springs |
| Length: | 33km – elevation 870m up, 760m down |
| Water point: | WP1 at 14km point at Birthday Waterhole Runners must depart WP1 with a minimum of 3 lt of hydration |
| Cut off times | Start Time + 2hr30min at Birthday Waterhole (14km pt) |
| Difficulty rating: | Starts off easy then has a steep climb in the middle. Medium / hard difficulty and technical |
Runners commence at the Birthday Waterhole Track / Red Centre Way road junction and run for approx. 14km along the undulating 4WD track as it winds its way across the flats and crosses a few dry creeks before arriving at Birthday Creek Waterhole. This section is very runnable and rewarding as you make your way towards the ranges.
Past the water point the course picks up the Larapinta Trail and skirts the base of some ridges before a very steep and tough climb up to the iconic Brinkley Bluff – the course climbing 550m in just 3km as it zig-zags its way up the side of this steep ridge, passing many false summits and steep drops in the process. The views from the top make it well worth it as you are high up in the Chewings Ranges with views across the continent.
From the summit it is largely ‘all downhill’ for 10km to the finish line at the Standley Chasm café although the highly technical terrain and loose rock make it a taxing descent through Reveal Saddle to the finish arch.
PUT THE MAPS ON YOUR PHONE: Scan the QR Code above (or CLICK HERE.
The Malbunka – STAGE 4
This scenic stage visits one of the MacDonnell Ranges’ favourite lookouts before finishing at Ellery Creek water hole for a swim.
| Time and Date | 7:00am on 18 August, 2025 |
| Start location: | Ochre Pits – 1hr10mins drive from Alice Springs |
| Finish location: | Ellery Creek Waterhole – 1hr drive from Alice Springs |
| Length: | 34km – elevation: 1,000m up and 910m down |
| Water points: | WP1 at Serpentine Chalet Dam 6km pt. WP2 at Serpentine Gorge 21km pt All runners must depart each water point with a minimum of 2 lt hydration. |
| Cut off times | Start time + 4hr45min at WP2 at Serpentine Gorge |
| Difficulty rating: | Medium – the last 10km is very technical and can be hot |
The start is at the ancient Ochre Pits, used by indigenous communities as a quarry for their rock paintings and body art. Head north for 3.5km runners then turn right (east) on the Larapinta Trail and continue along the undulating terrain as it flanks the ridges to go past Serpentine Chalet Dam at the 6km mark. At the 9km mark, the trail makes a sharp turn up as you climb to the spectacular Counts Point lookout on the ridgeline. Runners must complete a short 700m out and back to visit the lookout and get their name ticked off.
The spectacular running continues along the ridgeline and then drops down to the Water Point at Serpentine Gorge at 21km and continues along the undulating trail below the ridgeline to the ultimate finish line at the Ellery Creek Waterhole. This last section from WP2 to the finish is very harsh, sharp and rocky, so you must keep concentrating all the way to the finish.
We will have a ‘beach party’ set up at the waterhole with chairs, shade, music, food and drinks – and of course the magnificent waterhole to swim in – to help celebrate the end of Run Larapinta. It will be a finish line to remember!
PUT THE MAPS ON YOUR PHONE: Scan the QR Code above or CLICK HERE..
GPS Course file – MANDATORY FOR ALL COMPETITORS
All competitors MUST have the map for ALL 4 STAGES loaded into a mapping app on their phone. We recommend runners use CAPRA MAPS maps app that makes it easy to download the maps to your phone. Follow these steps:
- Download the CAPRA maps app and follow the prompts to create an account.
- Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or search ‘Run Larapinta’ in the app and tap the event logo to open the collection.
- SAVE FOR OFF-LINE USAGE: Tap the Stage you are running (eg. Malbunka or Namatjira) to open the info screen for that stage, then tap the 3 dots ‘…’ at the bottom right of the info screen, tap ‘Save for offline’
- Tap the ‘View Map Details’ button for that stage so you can see the map. Exit back out of this screen.
- Repeat point 3 and 4 for each stage you are running (ie. you need to save tap ‘Save for offline’ and open the map for each stage you are running).
NOTE the following regarding mandatory maps on your phone:
- All stages must be saved for offline and visible as ‘Offline maps’ in your Profile at bottom right to pass mandatory gear check during registration.
- We strongly recommend the Capra mapping app for all competitors, however we will also accept the courses being saved to other apps provided those apps work when out of phone reception (eg. Maps.ME, Guru and Gaia GPS). Having the courses saved solely on your watch is not sufficient.
- You can also download the GPX files for each stage from Capra so you can import them into other mapping apps.
ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
The Malbunka – Entry Qualifications
To be able to participate in any or all stages of the Malbunka, runners must have completed any one of the following between August 2023 and the 2025 race:
- A 50km trail running race OR
- A 100km trail running race OR
- A marathon in a time of under 4.5 hours (this may be a road or trail marathon on flat terrain)
- Previously completed the Malbunka at Run Larapinta.
We have set in place these requirements to help ensure runners have the required skills and experience to complete the Malbunka stages safely and within the cut off times. You will be asked to provide a URL link to your race result as evidence that you satisfy these requirements during the online entry process (so have it handy when entering). If you have not yet completed these requirements but intend to do so before the Run Larapinta you can enter TBA in the field whilst entering and advise us at a later date. Further details on qualifying available here.
UTMB qualifying race
The Run Larapinta Stage Race – Malbunka is registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and will provide successful runners with ITRA points (to help runners qualify for large international races), and UTMB points as an official qualifying race for this iconic event.
The Malbunka course (4 stages) of Run Larapinta 2025 is with the UTMB as an Index Race with a value of 3 points and is also awarded 3 ITRA points. For further information on UTMB click here.
