There are two course options –
Buckley’s 24 and the Buckley’s Half.

Buckley’s 24 – The Full Course is the ultimate test of physical and mental limits. It is the major focus of the event. It’s the ducks nuts. It’s tough and may have you on the go for the full 24 hours – we don’t expect every team to complete the course. It wouldn’t be the Buckley’s 24 if everyone could finish! With good teamwork and determination, finishing teams can expect to spend anywhere up to 24 hours on the course.

Buckley’s Half – The Half Course is approximately half the distance of the full course and ideal for those teams who want a bit less sleep deprivation and a little more time to enjoy the experience. Competitors begin the race with those doing the full course and then branch off to their specific course. The course tends to be interwoven with the Full Course meaning you are often traveling the same sections covered in the full. Competitors in this category have the full 24hrs to complete the half course with the official race finish 24hrs after the start.

Which one is for you? It is totally up to you however if you are a novice team we recommend firstly trying out the Buckley’s Half. The extra time and shorter distance will give your team a greater chance at being able to finish the race. You will have time to recover from navigational errors and you can spend longer in the transition areas warming up and eating.

Novice teams are welcome to enter the full course but must realise it will be hard, technical and you may not finish. On saying this, plenty of novice teams have finished it in the past…. it’s up to you!

Distances

Buckley’s 24 Full Course teams can expect an approximate total distance of 120kms including trekking 15-25km, mountain biking 70-90km and kayaking 15-25km depending on the location.

Buckley’s Half Course teams can expect an approximate total distance of 70kms including trekking 10-15km, mountain biking 40-50km and kayaking 10-15km.

Format

Buckley’s 24 is a linear race. All teams begin the adventure at the same point, then navigate their way through each leg consecutively. At the end of each leg is a Transition Area where you change from one discipline to another. At most Transition Areas you will be met by the transition team and any supporters that choose to come along.

We may need to transport you to the start line, but the race will always finish at Race HQ.

While on the course, team members must stay within 100m of each other for the entire race. If a team member pulls out, then that team will not receive an official finishing place. The team may be permitted to continue “Unranked” providing there is a minimum of 2 people in the full course. The winning team in each category will be the first team across the finish line after successfully navigating all legs of the course, and having all the team members they started with.

To foster an adventurous spirit, and save some of the excitement for race day, the exact course will not be released until the day of the event. All teams will be given the course at the same time, at the course briefing.

Cut-offs

Our aim is give teams the opportunity to challenge themselves non-stop for 24 hours. This means that even if a team is going slow, they should still be able to race on the course for 24 hours, regardless of how far along it they get. Teams will however need to be back at race HQ for the official race finish on Sunday.

Environment

Environmental impact is a major concern and it is expected that competitors be aware of this. Generally adventure racers are responsible when it comes to looking after the environment in which they are racing, and we hope that this will continue with the Buckley’s 24. The race rules detail some specific environmental requirements.

Water

No specific provisions have been made for water re-supply on the course (it is available at most transition areas). Teams will need to carefully consider their water needs. This includes how much to carry and whether it is likely that water will be found on the course.

Weather

Generally teams will need to be prepared for all weather conditions. It is a good idea when the location is announced to research the local weather and climate. This way your team can be better prepared for what may be in store.