The Roof of Australia Awaits
"You'll finish Alpine Quest and never look at a mountain the same way again. It strips you back to the essentials — your team, your map, the terrain — and shows you what you're actually capable of." - Sergey Kurov / Race director
“Push yourself to your limits, learn about yourself and how to effectively work together as a team whilst enjoying some of the most spectacular, rugged, and untouched areas of the country.” - Steve Owens , race participant (Melbourne)
Alpine Quest is a multi-day, expedition-length adventure race held in the Australian High Country, in the Kosciuszko region of the Snowy Mountains. It is the most demanding event in the Adventure Junkie portfolio — a true wilderness racing experience that asks teams to navigate, trek, ride and paddle a continuous course through the roof of Australia.
This is racing in its purest expedition form. Teams move under their own power, day and night, making their own decisions about route, pace, rest and sleep. The course is linear — teams are transported by bus to a remote start, then race a logical pathway across the mountains to the finish. From the moment the race begins, the only way forward is through.
Alpine Quest is built by racers, for racers. The course is designed using all available open data to produce a genuine, fair navigational challenge — a test of skill and decision-making, not luck. Teams will work across multiple map scales, from broad 1:300,000 sheets down to detailed 1:150,000 mapping, with dedicated river maps where the water sections demand them.
Alpine Quest returns in 2027.
What's Involved?
Teams will navigate, trek, mountain bike and kayak across a vast and demanding alpine landscape. Other disciplines may be included at the discretion of the organisers, and teams may or may not be notified of these before the race starts.
Alpine Quest tests far more than fitness. It tests navigation, teamwork, judgement, and the mental strength to keep moving when conditions turn and the body wants to stop. The route is highly demanding both technically and physically. A high degree of outdoor competency is a prerequisite of entry, and teams should not underestimate the importance of being well prepared for travel in remote, exposed terrain.
The general format of Alpine Quest is set out below:
- Alpine Quest is run as an unsupported event — teams do not need to arrange their own support crew. Race organisers and volunteers transport each team's gear between key points on the course (Transition areas).
- Teams are bussed to a remote start. The course is linear, running a logical pathway from start to finish across the High Country.
- Teams receive their maps and race information shortly before the start. Once the race begins, teams must navigate between a series of mandatory checkpoints along the course. Teams receive a logistics matrix about one week before the race so they know what and how to pack their gear boxes.
- To finish ranked, teams must visit all mandatory checkpoints. Teams cannot opt out of checkpoints in exchange for a time penalty — that diminishes the achievement of everyone competing.
- Between checkpoints, the route is generally optional, which is where the real navigational challenge lives.
- The course is broken into stages, with teams changing discipline at designated transition areas (TAs) staffed by race officials and volunteers. The teams’ gear prepacked into the gear boxes is transported to these locations. This is where teams can change gear and get extra supplies for the next stage. Otherwise, the teams are self-sufficient. This is a classic Man vs Wild Challenge.
- The race includes a mandatory midcamp stop, where teams have access to their own tent and sleeping bags. This is a deliberate safety design — it lets teams rest properly and race safe across the multi-day course.
- Teams race day and night. Decisions to rest and sleep are left to the discretion of each team. Time never stops.
Race Safe
Alpine Quest takes place in genuinely remote, high-altitude terrain where the weather can change fast. Teams must be prepared for the full range of High Country conditions - from well below zero to the high 30s, significant water, and the possibility of snow on the tops at any time of year.
Every team carries a satellite phone and a live GPS tracker. These keep teams connected to race headquarters and allow us - and your family at home - to follow your progress in real time. Your safety is the priority, and the course, the midcamp and the gear transport are all built around getting every team to the finish line.
Duration
Alpine Quest is an expedition-length event. Lead teams are expected to take several days of near-continuous movement to complete the course, with back-of-field teams given longer. A mid-race cut-off will operate to shorten the route where needed and ensure all teams reach the finish within the time allowed. Exact distances, stage breakdown and cut-off times will be confirmed in the race information released ahead of the event.
Bring the Crew
You'll have travelled a long way to be here - make the most of it. While you're out on course, families and supporters can base themselves in Jindabyne and explore everything the Snowy Mountains has to offer: the summit of Kosciuszko, the lake, the Thredbo chairlift, brumbies on the plains, and the long mountain evenings. Many teams turn race week into a proper mountain holiday, arriving early or staying on after the finish.
This Is the Place
Some races are defined by their finish times. Alpine Quest is defined by where it happens. You'll remember the climbs, the cold rivers, the long paddles, the 2am ridgelines and the sunrise over the Main Range for the rest of your life.
The mountains are ready. The town is ready. All that's left is your team.
Alpine Quest. The Roof of Australia awaits.
