Ultra Marathons in Australia: The 2027 Race Calendar
Routes | Published 2026-10-03 | By OUTRN Team
A calendar of Australian ultramarathons for 2027, with dates, distances and how entry works for races from Cradle Mountain to Katoomba and the Larapinta Trail.
The 2027 Australian ultras in this calendar run from Bogong to Hotham on 16 January to the Surf Coast Century on 18 September, with races from Tasmania's Cradle Mountain to the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory. An ultramarathon is any distance longer than 42.195km, according to World Athletics, so a standard marathon does not count.
Dates, distances and entry details below come from each organiser's own site or entry page, as checked on 4 October 2026.
When are the 2027 Australian ultramarathons?
| Race | Where | Date | Ultra distances | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogong to Hotham | Victoria | 16 January 2027 | 64km | Listed as "Open Soon". Entry is assessed on experience |
| Cradle Mountain Run | Tasmania | 6 February 2027 | 78km | Opens 8pm AEDT on 11 October 2026 and closes after 24 hours or when full. $350, 60 runners, qualifier required |
| Six Foot Track Marathon | New South Wales | 13 March 2027 | 45km | Qualifier and lottery, 30 November to 4 December 2026. $240 |
| Buffalo Stampede | Victoria | 19 to 21 March 2027 | 100km (plus 72km and 152km multi-day Slam combinations) | 100km is $490 until 25 February 2027, then $588 (the $417 early bird has closed) |
| Noosa Ultra-Trail | Queensland | 20 March 2027 | 45km, 50km, 80km, 100km | Open now. 100km is $405 early (ends 31 October 2026), $425 standard, $445 late (from 1 February 2027), plus a 5% booking fee |
| Alpine Challenge | Victoria | 3 to 4 April 2027 | 60km, 100km, 160km | Open. Standard fees until 11 March 2027: 160km $600, 100km $400, 60km $250 (late fees are higher) |
| Ultra-Trail Australia | New South Wales | 13 to 16 May 2027 | 51km, 101km, 161.1km | General entries sold out. Charity bibs only |
| West Macs Monster | Northern Territory | 14 to 16 May 2027 | 65km, 128km, 231km | Opened 1 October 2026. All three ultra distances show sold out, with no waitlist. Qualifier needed by 30 April 2027 |
| Great Ocean Road Running Festival | Victoria | 16 May 2027 | 60km | Open. $180, 6 hour 30 cut-off |
| Surf Coast Century | Victoria | 18 September 2027 | 50km, 100km | 2027 entry not yet open |
Official pages: Bogong to Hotham (entry status from Trailsplus), Cradle Mountain Run, Six Foot Track Marathon and its 2027 entry guide, Buffalo Stampede and its entry page, Noosa Ultra-Trail and its entry fees, Alpine Challenge, Ultra-Trail Australia and its entry information, West Macs Monster, Great Ocean Road Running Festival and Surf Coast Century.
Two more run late in 2026, and we found no 2027 dates for them on 4 October 2026: Coast to Kosciuszko on 20 November 2026 (240km, invitation only, about 60 runners, 46 hour cut-off) and Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko on 26 to 28 November 2026 (sold out).
Which Australian ultras are 161km?
The 161km races in this calendar are the UTAMiler at Ultra-Trail Australia, which is 161.1km with 7,200m of climbing, and the Alpine Challenge 160km at Falls Creek, which is listed with 7,600m of ascent across six major climbs. Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko's KosciMiler is 160.5km with 4,731m of climbing, though only the 2026 edition is published. General entries for the UTAMiler are sold out.
Which ultras need a qualifier?
Four stand out. The Six Foot Track Marathon needs a qualifying time from a race between 1 July 2025 and 15 November 2026, and places not taken by preferred entrants are allocated by lottery. The Cradle Mountain Run needs a prior Cradle Run or a single-stage trail ultra over 80km finished inside its cut-off within the last three years (two named Tasmanian races also count). The UTAMiler needs an official 50km or longer result between 28 March 2025 and 28 March 2027. Ultra entrants at the West Macs Monster need a qualifying run before 30 April 2027, and training runs do not count.
Which Australian ultras are closest to Sydney?
The Six Foot Track Marathon and Ultra-Trail Australia are both in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. We have a full guide to each: the Six Foot Track guide and the Ultra-Trail Australia guide. For more New South Wales races, see our NSW trail races calendar.
Which one should you pick?
For a first ultra, the shorter options are the 45km Six Foot Track Marathon, the 45km and 50km distances at Noosa and the 50km at Surf Coast, or the UTA50 at 51km (general entries are sold out, with charity bibs only). The Six Foot Track Marathon also needs a qualifier and a lottery place. The Great Ocean Road ultra is 60km with a 6 hour 30 cut-off. For anything longer, the qualifiers, caps and sold-out fields above mean planning well ahead. Our first ultra training guide covers how to build, including the places where the research runs out.
What changed recently?
The Great North Walk Trail Running Festival at Patonga on 20 September 2026 listed 50km, 30km and 10km on its entry page, with no 161km or 100km race. We found no 2027 date on 4 October 2026.
Inspired? Run the mountains without a race
If you want Blue Mountains terrain without a start line, we are building a four-day trip there: one house near Katoomba and Wentworth Falls, a different run each day and no timing chips. Dates are to be confirmed and the price is an estimate of about $1,650 per person. Booking is not open yet, so register your interest and we will contact you first.
Register interest in Run the Blue Mountains
Further reading
- How do you train for your first ultra?
- Which NSW trail races are there in 2027?
- How do you fuel a long run?
Register interest in Run the Blue Mountains
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an ultramarathon?
World Athletics describes ultrarunning as any distance longer than the traditional 42.195km marathon. A standard 42.2km marathon sits right at that boundary and is not counted as an ultra.
When is the Six Foot Track Marathon in 2027?
The Six Foot Track Marathon is on Saturday 13 March 2027. It is 45km, has a 7 hour cut-off, costs $240 and needs a qualifying time from a race between 1 July 2025 and 15 November 2026. Preferred entry opens at 9am on 30 November 2026 and the lottery runs from 2 to 4 December 2026.
Which Australian ultras are 161km?
Of the races in this calendar, the UTAMiler at Ultra-Trail Australia in May 2027 is 161.1km, and the 160km race at the Alpine Challenge in Falls Creek is listed with 7,600m of ascent. Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko's KosciMiler is 160.5km, but only its 2026 date (26 to 28 November 2026) is published.
Which Australian ultras need a qualifier?
The Six Foot Track Marathon, the Cradle Mountain Run and the UTAMiler all ask for a qualifying result, and ultra entrants at the West Macs Monster need a qualifying run before 30 April 2027. Check each organiser's current rules.