Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Running · Other Distances
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge 2026
- Race day
- Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Location
- Mornington Peninsula, Australia
- Distance
- 24.85 mi / 40.0 km
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge: 17 October 2026, 24.85 miles. Entry, route, a pace chart and the race-day forecast.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Race Timeline
37 days to go
This is where the real training happens — building your long run and getting comfortable with 24.85-mile race-pace.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge 2026: quick answers
When is The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge 2026?
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge 2026 takes place on Saturday, 17 October 2026.
Where does The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge start?
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge starts at Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC. The organiser hasn't published a finish location.
How many miles is The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge?
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge is 24.85 miles (40km).
How much does The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge cost to enter?
$105‑$170 — confirm the current price on the organiser's own site before entering.
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Distance
- 24.85 miles / 40.0km
- Location
- Mornington Peninsula, Australia
- Start Point
- Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
- Surface
- Mixed (coastal trails, bush tracks, dirt roads)
Not published by the organiser at the time of writing: finish point, start time, cut-off time, age requirement, tracking app. Verus records these as unconfirmed rather than estimating them — check the official race website closer to race day.
Direct Entry Summary
$105‑$170 — confirm the current price on the organiser's own site before entering.
Ballot Policy
No ballot — entry is direct through Great Aussie Hike.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Race Day Weather
A real forecast appears here once one exists for race day — usually about a week to ten days out. Nothing is shown until then, because a made-up forecast is worse than none.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Route Map & Elevation Profile
Starting at Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC. The organiser hasn't published a finish location. Total elevation gain is not published for this event, and Verus does not estimate one.
Is The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge flat?
No official elevation figure is published for this course, so Verus doesn't state one. The organiser describes the going as: mixed (coastal trails, bush tracks, dirt roads).
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Course Profile
Elevation change not published for this event.
Tap a point on the course for details.
Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Start line.
Where The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge starts and finishes
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge starts at Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC. We haven't been able to place those on a map accurately enough to show one — a pin in the wrong place is worse than no pin.
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on.
Full The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Route Breakdown
Participants start at Gunnamatta Beach and, depending on the chosen distance, trek through a blend of sandy shoreline, rugged bush tracks and quiet dirt roads. The 40km challenge follows the full coastal route to Nazaraay Winery Estate in Flinders, offering sweeping ocean views and forested valleys. The 30km option takes a shorter but still varied path from Gunnamatta to Flinders, while the 20km walk begins at Cape Schanck and loops back through coastal scenery. Expect well‑marked trails, rest stops with amenities, and occasional steep sections that test endurance, all set against the natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Pace Calculator & Splits
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Pace Calculator
Enter a target finish time to see your pace and projected splits.
Average pace / mile
9:39
Average pace / km
6:00
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Pace Chart
Split markers calculated for standard checkpoints — no official pacers are confirmed for this event.
| Target | Pace /mi | Pace /km | 5K | 10K | Half Marathon | 30K | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 7:15 | 4:30 | 22:30 | 45:01 | 1:34:57 | 2:15:02 | 3:00:00 |
| 3:15 | 7:51 | 4:53 | 24:23 | 48:46 | 1:42:52 | 2:26:17 | 3:15:00 |
| 3:30 | 8:27 | 5:15 | 26:15 | 52:31 | 1:50:47 | 2:37:32 | 3:30:00 |
| 3:45 | 9:03 | 5:38 | 28:08 | 56:16 | 1:58:42 | 2:48:47 | 3:45:00 |
| 4:00 | 9:39 | 6:00 | 30:00 | 1:00:01 | 2:06:37 | 3:00:02 | 4:00:00 |
| 4:15 | 10:16 | 6:23 | 31:53 | 1:03:46 | 2:14:31 | 3:11:17 | 4:15:00 |
| 4:30 | 10:52 | 6:45 | 33:45 | 1:07:31 | 2:22:26 | 3:22:32 | 4:30:00 |
| 4:45 | 11:28 | 7:08 | 35:38 | 1:11:16 | 2:30:21 | 3:33:48 | 4:45:00 |
| 5:00 | 12:04 | 7:30 | 37:30 | 1:15:01 | 2:38:16 | 3:45:03 | 5:00:00 |
| 5:30 | 13:17 | 8:15 | 41:15 | 1:22:31 | 2:54:05 | 4:07:33 | 5:30:00 |
| 6:00 | 14:29 | 9:00 | 45:01 | 1:30:01 | 3:09:55 | 4:30:03 | 6:00:00 |
| 6:30 | 15:42 | 9:45 | 48:46 | 1:37:31 | 3:25:44 | 4:52:33 | 6:30:00 |
| 7:00 | 16:54 | 10:30 | 52:31 | 1:45:01 | 3:41:34 | 5:15:04 | 7:00:00 |
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Finish Time Estimator
Enter a recent 5K, 10K or Half Marathon time to estimate your The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge finish time.
Your 5K time
Estimated The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge finish
3:46:32
An estimate only, based on Pete Riegel's race-time prediction formula. Real marathon performance depends on endurance, training specificity, pacing and race-day conditions — not just your speed over a shorter distance.
Training for a different distance? Try the full pace calculator, race time predictor or pace chart.
Got your target time? Save it to your profile.
Tag The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge, set your goal pace, and let Verus track your countdown, training and fundraising in one place.
Start Your Verus JourneyThe Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Race Day Checklist
Tap items to mark off your race-day readiness.
- Race number attached, and any timing chip fitted per your race pack instructions
- Weather-appropriate kit, plus something warm and disposable to discard before the start
- A plan for reaching Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
- A meeting point agreed with family and friends for after the race
Training Strategy for The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge
6-10 weeks is a solid window for a 24.85-mile race. Combine a weekly long run with threshold work so you can hold pace over the full distance.
This is a largely flat course, so most of your long runs can mirror that — flat and steady, building time on feet rather than hill strength.
Ease off mileage in the final week, keeping a couple of short, sharp race-pace efforts to stay fresh. Arrive at Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mornington Peninsula, VIC fresh, energized, and primed — not fit, fresh.
Lock in your target pace using the interactive splits calculator below — no official pacers are confirmed for this event, so a pace band on your watch is the more reliable option.
Test your race-day fuel and hydration plan on your long training runs, not for the first time on race day — check the Race Day Checklist below for what's actually on this course.
24.85-Mile Nutrition & Fueling Plan
A deliberate increase in carbohydrate over the two to three days before the race is the well-established approach at marathon distance.
Eat a carbohydrate-focused breakfast two to three hours before the start, and stick to something you've already tested in training rather than trying anything new.
Most runners take on carbohydrate every 30 to 45 minutes from about an hour in, alongside fluid at the on-course stations.
A mix of carbohydrate and protein in the hour or so after finishing supports recovery.
The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Charity Places 2026
No formal charity-place scheme published — runners commonly fundraise for a charity of their own choosing.
Lead with your personal story — explain why the charity matters to you. Personal connection generates 3x more support than a generic link broadcast.
Share key training milestones on Instagram (first 10-miler, peak week, race week) with your fundraising link in bio. Publicly thanking donors prompts secondary gifts!
Running The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge for charity?
Link your JustGiving page to Verus and show up right here alongside other The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge fundraisers — goal, progress and story, all in one place.
Add Your Fundraiser to VerusThe Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know for race weekend.
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Race details independently compiled and fact-checked by Tommo against the official The Great Aussie Hike 40km Challenge site , last verified August 2026. Always confirm official timings and policies directly prior to race day.