- Highest Point 560m (Steavenson Falls)
Lowest Point 280m Marysville Buxton Road near Buxton.
The route is clearly marked and marshals will assist along the way. Track notes don’t need to be carried.
This run starts outside Marysville Caravan Park, 100m north of the towns largest roundabout. The run commences by following the main sealed road towards Buxton. Most of this journey is downhill. Along the way the Marysville Golf Course is passed on the left and if required there are toilets here. On the right is the temporary village which houses some residents who lost their homes in the Black Saturday Fires.
After 2km just beyond the northern extent of the temporary village the half marathon turns right into Dickinson Track which is a minor earth road, there is a drink station here. The marathon continues straight on which is slightly downhill. The Taggerty & Steavenson Rivers are crossed in the space of about a kilometre. Then there is a long straight, then Retreat Road goes off to the left and the Steavenson River is recrossed at a popular fishing spot. Eagles Nest and Mt Margaret Roads are passed on the right and the road takes a few bends. There are two small rises to reach the outskirts of Buxton. The road then drops steeply to the turnaround point near the Marysville Medical Clinic. in Buxton.
Retrace your steps back to Dickinson Track for 9km and turn left. Dickinson Track which is a flat, earth track of 2km in length and received a reasonably hot burn during the fires. The Marysville sewerage farm is passed on the right. After 1100m along Dickinson Track the half way point is passed in the marathon. The track then remains flat but twists a fair bit to reach Lady Talbot Drive. Along the way a few walking tracks cross the course and there is a small camping access track.
At Lady Talbot Drive T intersection turn left where there is a drink station. During the week DSE has laid some larger rocks along this section of road. Follow this road which is gravel of 2wd standard,- this section of road is mostly flat. The Taggerty River is close by on the left, with many pebble races and ferns rapidly recolonising the valley. The remains of Taggerty River Picnic Ground is passed on the right.
A current logging area becomes visible on the right there is an access road which is not posted called Sunds Road. A further 400m on the new logging coupe clearly visible. The half marathon turns around. The marathon climbs more steeply for 500m, up to the turnaround point near the turn off point for Athols Abbey Camping Area. The river is close to the road and has many small drops. Retrace your tracks back 4.3km back to Dickinson Track junction but this time continue straight along Lady Talbot Drive.
Gravel along this road may slightly slow your progress to the outskirts of Marysville and the road climbs a bit. The final 400m of this road is sealed. No houses survived along this road during the fires and one car port did. A new house is nearly complete near the top of the rise up to the Lake Mountain Road.
Turn right (downhill) for about 100m and then turn left onto Kerami Link which is a walking track which has been resurfaced for this run during the week. Take care the screenings may be a bit loose in places. The trail drops steeply for 150m down to the Steavenson River. The Gallipoli Park Start/Finish area is visible across the river. Turn right and follow the walking trail beside the Steavenson River downstream for about 500m. Many large trees have been felled after the fires in this area. Turn left and cross Bill Lucas (foot) bridge. Then follow an area with a slight rise over bark chips to reach another bridge. This bridge crosses Leary Creek which had the decking partly burnt in the fires.
Turn left shortly after crossing the bridge and stay to the left side of the lake and follow Wisteria Walk. The Market Stalls will be on your right as well. If you are very tall you may have to duck as the track goes under the wisteria which are strung over the walking track.
Go past the newly built large BBQ Shelter, the entrance to the oval and the “Beatles” toilets. You have now covered about 34km. Follow the gravel road which is well marked past beside Bruno’s Sculpture Garden and turn left on to Falls Road. On the right is the first of several houses on Falls Road which survived the fires. It is a steady rise on a sealed road up towards Steavenson Falls. A few more houses which survived the fire are visible on the right while on the left several new houses are nearing completion.
The forest has received a reasonably hot burn along this section of the course. The outskirts of the town are left behind and Yellow Dog Road is passed to the left. There is a short flat section and the road is still sealed but looks like a gravel road because so much dirt is covering the road. Many trees have fallen or been cleared in the valley below. The fierce winds and fire in some sections felled the trees in rows. Falls Road takes a sharp right bend, the grade increases and the valley narrows.
Several more bends and Steavenson Falls comes into view and remains in view to the turnaround more than 500m off. Then Steavenson Falls car park is reached. The burn around here was very hot, the old toilet block has been removed a temporary portable toilet is available to use for the run. A small stream on the right also cascades into the car park. The course now follows a gravel walking track for about 400m up to Steavenson Falls. This is the highlight of the runs so take in as much the surroundings as you can so you remember this view for some time. Be prepared for a more crowded section here and possibly slower progress. There is a turnaround near the Falls.
Then it is mostly downhill and flat back to the start. Take care on the descent not to cramp up as your leg muscles may not be used to descending fast after running for some hours. Otherwise it is an easy run back to the town of Marysville.
When the oval comes into view be careful to follow the race signs because the return journey is different to the exit from Gallipoli Park. Follow a dirt path on the right hand side of the Falls Road for a further 200m and then there is a very sharp right hand turn on a slight downhill. Follow a vehicle track around the outside of the oval to just past the “Beatles” toilet block where there is an opening in the Gallipoli Park Oval. Follow the markers for nearly a full lap of the grass oval to the finish.
Marathon Course Map
Half-Marathon
The Half-Marathon (21.095 km) will start at 10:30 am outside the Marysville Caravan Park, near the lower roundabout in the town's main street (Murchison Street). The course is in two out and back loops, of decreasing length. The height variation between the lowest point, at the Marysville golf course (360 m), and the highest point, Steavenson Falls (560 m) is 200 metres. Runners will proceed along the lane of the Buxton-Marysville Road, gently descending along the Steavenson River valley, past the Marysville golf course and temporary village, turning right on Dickinson Track. They join the marathon runners, following up the gentle Taggerty River valley where they will reach Lady Talbot Drive, turn left and proceed along it for approximately 3.5 km before returning to cross Woods Point Road. Runners pass through the Start/Finish Area at Gallipoli Park, heading up the Steavenson River valley along the single lane of Falls Road. On reaching Steavenson Falls they return along the same lane to finish at Gallipoli Park.
Half Marathon Course Map
10 km Run / Walk
This event starts at Gallipoli Park, on Falls Road, near the intersection with the town's main street (Murchison Street). The height variation between Gallipoli Park (410 m) and the highest point, Steavenson Falls (560 m), is 150 metres. Runners and walkers head up the Steavenson River valley along the single lane of Falls Road. At Yellow Dog Road they turn left for 1 km then return the same way to continue proceeding along Falls Road to Steavenson Falls. The return to finish at Gallipoli Park is via the same single lane of Falls Road.
10km Run/Walk Course Map
3 km Run / Walk
This event starts at 11:30 am for the first 300 entered and for all others at 11:45 am. The reason for this is to ease congestion issues with returning 10 km entrants. Unless you need to be with friends, please join the group indicated by the number on your race bib - 3000-3299 start at 11:30 am, 3300 and above start at 11:45 am.
Both waves of entrants start at Gallipoli Park, on Falls Road, near the intersection with the town's main street (Murchison Street). The height variation between Gallipoli Park (410 m) and the highest point at 490 m is 80 metres. Participants head up the Steavenson River valley along the single lane of Falls Road. Near the intersection with Yellow Dog Road they turn around to return the same way to finish at Gallipoli Park.
3km Run/Walk Course Map