Top End Orienteers

Mountain Bike Event

Howard Springs Pine Forest

Event type

This is a bike orienteering event, with line courses. Participants will visit all checkpoints shown on their map, in the order specified.

Sunday, 13 July 2025

Orienteering by mountain bike in the Howard Springs Pine Forest. Three courses are offered: Short, Medium and Long. Riders will carry a map that shows a series of numbered checkpoints, linked with lines to show the order to visit them. All checkpoints will be on or adjacent to tracks, which are shown on the map with different symbols depending on track width/obviousness. Riders will carry a punch card (one per group), that they use at each checkpoint to record proof of checkpoint visitation. Riders will carry mobile phones with the MapRun timing app installed, to record elapsed time on course. Riders who start together as a group are expected to ride together, visit checkpoints together and finish together, as a group. All welcome, including riders new to map reading, and/or riding. No prior orienteering experience needed. Courses are set to be fun and provide navigational dilemma but not be overly bike technical. The forest tracks are mostly "low tech" and suitable for novice riders. Some short crosscountry riding may be necessary. Courses are planned so winners should take 1-1.3 hours.

All participants must be registered online through Orienteering Australia (Eventor) prior to this event!

More details on signing up and entering with Eventor

Payment

Cash and electronic payments accepted (Eftpos, Paywave, major credit cards & NFC smart phone).

Course Planner

Rick Armstrong

Organiser

Bryden Smith

Time

Start between 7:00 am and 9:00 am

Finish by 11:00 am

Courses offered

Short

8.0

controls

Medium

12.0

controls

Long

18.0

controls

BYO

Road worthy bike, helmet, water bottle, sun protection, snacks for riding, mobile phone and companion - if you like to ride in a group. All riders are required to wear a helmet. Carry water to drink whilst competing. Please download the MapRun app on your phone prior to coming - we use this for timing purposes.

Coaching

Coaching is available between 7:00 am and 8:00 am

Afterwards

Relax in the shade and compare routes with others. We provide cold water and fruit free of charge and an assortment of cold drinks can be purchased from the esky.

Directions

From the Stuart Highway, travel northeast along Howard Springs road/Gunn Pt road towards the Howard Springs Nature Park. Travel approximately 500 metres beyond the turn off to Howard Springs Nature Park. Look for orienteering signs. You will need to pull off the bitumen (across the traffic) and park on the south side of the road on the forest verge.