The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s
fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for
the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC).
KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian
Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA).
The event will take place the 19th to the 21st of March, 2027.
AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”.
“World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage
for Australia’s first combined National Trail Championships,” he said.
It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to
Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail
Running Championships.
“This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said.
“We’re excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running
in Australia…helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners.”
The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship disciplines have been held together, at
the one festival.
“It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway
for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said.
“We champion running at every level and in every form. Mountain and trail running have become an
important and rapidly growing part of athletics in Australia,” Chief Executive of Athletics Tasmania, Glen
Taylor said.
“Hosting the Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships at KMR is not only recognition of the
outstanding event the team has built, but also an exciting opportunity to inspire more people to discover the
sport.”
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Roger Jaensch, said the event will bring competitors and
visitors to Hobart, while showcasing the State as a premier destination for mountain and trail running.
“The Championships will place the region on the national stage, with athletes set to experience some of the
most spectacular courses in the country,” Minister Jaensch said.
“This event adds to Tasmania’s growing calendar of major sporting events, reinforcing our reputation as a
leading destination for sport, adventure and events,” he said.
KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than
1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year.
The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for
the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners.
“We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” Lincoln Quilliam, KMR’s founder and director said.
“KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities.
“From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first
time,” Mr Quilliam said.
Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR,
Tasmania and the sport.
“I think Tasmania has some of the best trails in Australia, and as a Tasmanian, I am really excited for the
Tasmanian trail running community to get the chance to compete at the National Championship level in our
own backyard,” she said.
“I have recently got back into racing after a 2-year hiatus and I am keen to test my limits against Australia’s
best trail and mountain runners on my home turf.”
The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna
Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news.
“Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation
as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.”
The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed
nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a
“significant return for the visitor economy”.
“Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run
shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said.
“We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that
is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.”
“This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination.
“With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to
what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and
visit.”
For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run
Dates: 19-21 March 2027
Pic credit: Robert Groom
Posted 7/7/2025
