Your Guide to Margaret River’s 2019 Adventure Sport Events
Margaret River is so much more than just a wine region, its diverse landscapes provide the perfect backdrops for ultra-marathons, surfing competitions and mountain bike races. Learn when and where these challenging events take place this year.
Margaret River is renowned for its natural beauty. From towering karri forests, rivers, caves and surf breaks, this pristine, diverse landscape makes the perfect backdrop for adventure sports. With nature providing the infrastructure, Margaret River plays host to a full calendar of extreme sporting events. Surfing competitions, ultra-marathons, mountain bike races and ironman events take place annually with enthusiasts flocking to our doorstep from all over Australia and the rest of the world
Here’s our rundown on the key local events taking place in 2019 and early 2020. Our region is now just as famous for these events as it is for our wines, so planning your trip well in advance is a must.
Margaret River Ultra Marathon
For serious long-distance runners, the Margaret River Ultra Marathon on 4-5 May 2019, is the ultimate challenge. The 80-kilometre course along the Cape to Cape coastline in South West WA takes competitors through forests and charming coastal villages, over bluffs and past famous surf breaks and iconic wineries. It’s a breath-taking course in more ways than one!
Margaret River Pro
Thirty-four of the top-ranked male surfers and 16 of the top-ranked female surfers in the world will compete at the Margaret Rive Pro. As part of the World Surf League (WSL) World Championship Tour (WCT), you can expect to see some amazing surfing from 27 May to 7 June and there is no entry fee for spectators, so head to the aptly named Surfers Point, Prevelly and watch the action.
Cape to Cape Mountain Bike Race
Australia’s most popular four-day mountain bike stage race covers approximately 210 kilometres of diverse terrain. The Cape to Cape, from 17-22 October, starts at Cape Leeuwin lighthouse follows a network of trails along the coast, through National Parks, forest, farms, mountain bike parks, vineyards and bush before finishing four days later at the famous Colonial Brewery in Margaret River. If you’re into mountain biking, this is the event for you with lots of chance for socialising and having fun when you’re not on the bike.
Augusta Adventure Fest
This event held in Augusta is exactly what its name implies: a fest of adventure. The Augusta Adventure Fest will held over two days 2-3 November 2019. You can pick and choose which events you want to go in, including a 17-kilometre trail running race and a 15-kilometre ocean paddling race. Or register for the Augusta Adventure Race, which is a one-kilometre ocean swim, 6.6-kilometre coastal run, 15-kilometre mountain bike, six-kilometre inlet paddle and a 200-metre run to finish.
Ironman Western Australia
A more cruelling event is hard to imagine: a 3.86-kilometre swim; 180-kilometre cycle and a 42.2-kilometre run, which is a full marathon. The Ironman Western Australia is set in and around Busselton and incorporates the famous Busselton jetty in the swim leg. Held on 1 December, people come from around the world to compete and strive for their personal best time as this course is renowned for being flat. If you’re up for a true physical challenge, you can still register.
SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton
The SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton is one of the largest events of its type in Australia and the entire Asia Pacific region for that matter. Formally known as the WA Long Course Triathlon Championships and held on Rottnest Island, spectators now line the foreshore of Busselton as the athletes complete the 1.9-kilometre swim in Geographe Bay, the 90.1-kilometre cycle leg through Tuart Forest National Park and a 21.1-kilometre run past the cheering crowds. It’s a picturesque course for competitors and spectators alike.
Planning ahead for 2020
The Sunsmart Busselton Jetty Swim is slated for 9 February 2020. The 3.6-kilometre swim around the Busselton Jetty – which extends 1.6 kilometres or exactly 1 mile into the ocean – can be tackled as an individual or in team of two or four. You can also compete the Swim to Shore event where you swim from the end of the jetty back to the beach.
The Half Marathon & Fun Run along the Busselton Foreshore will go ahead again in 2020 with the date yet to be announced. There are three distances to choose from 21 kilometres (half marathon), 10 kilometres (fun run) or 5 kilometres (fun run). Start training!
Regardless of whether you are competing or cheering on someone who is, the Margaret River provides the perfect backdrop for adventure sport events. Even better, after it’s over you can explore the region and experience the world-class wines. We look forward to welcoming you to our cellar door. And if you need tips on where to stay, read our blog on the best accommodation in the Margaret River.
Image: AMB Mag