Information for Landholders
Rev 6PAG14MAY18
WHAT IS A ROGAINE?
Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation, in which teams of two to five people visit as many checkpoints as they wish in a set period. The rogaine can be 24 hours down to 6 hours in duration.
Rogaining is an activity for people of all ages and levels of fitness. While champion rogainers may be elite endurance athletes, our events include many older people and many young families with children. The emphasis is on enjoying the activity, the surroundings and the personal challenge.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A ROGAINE
- Access to areas with published Sunmap 1: 50000 or 1: 25000 topographic maps that have a moderately undulating hilly terrain and is open forest or cleared or partly cleared land. The area required varies depending on the duration of the event, the steepness of the terrain and the vegetation, for example
24-hour event requires 100-130 km212-hour event requires 60-80 km2
8-hour event requires 40-50 km26-hour event requires 30-40 km2 .
- Access to relatively large properties so that the number of landholders involved is minimised, preferably five or less.
- All-weather two wheel drive vehicle access to a centrally located start/finish area. For 24/12/8 hour events, an overnight camping area and food tent needs to be included at the start/finish area.
- Occasional access for a very small number of people to land to organize the event for several months in advance of the event to set and check the course.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY NOT USE STATE FORESTS OR NATIONAL PARKS?
Access to National Parks in Queensland for rogaining purposes has been denied in the past by QPWS due to the perceived competitive nature of the events. Access to some State Forests is also denied due to logging operations or for fauna/flora conservation reasons. Many StateForests and almost all National Parks are usually too densely vegetated to allow for a safe and enjoyable event for participants. State Forests that are more open have been used successfully in conjunction with adjoining grazing lands for rogaines.
WILL STOCK BE AFFECTED BY ROGAINERS?
Rogaining in Queensland has been using land grazed with cattle and sheep for the last ten years and we have never had an adverse incident with stock yet. Because rogainers move around properties in small groups (usually two persons) and are following different courses, they are unlikely to herd or disturb stock and if they do, it is only briefly. Generally the rogainers are more concerned about the cattle than the cattle are about the rogainers.
DOES A ROGAINE HAVE ANY IMPACTS ON THE LAND?
Generally, no. The number of competitors involved in an event is relatively low, and they are widely dispersed over a large area. Also, each team tends to take a different route, so there will be no established “trails”. Queensland events usually have less than 200 people. For example, for a 24-hour event, with 200 competitors divided into 80 teams on a 100km2 course, you should only expect to see one team per sq km (100 hectares) spread over a 24-hour period. In addition, participants are mindful that they are on private property and they do not litter, damage fences, herd cattle, light fires or even smoke. After an event, you can only expect to see flattened grass at the start/finish area.
WHY NOT USE THE SAME AREAS YOU HAVE USED IN THE PAST?
Apart from navigation, fitness and endurance, rogaines test a team's ability to plan an effective course from a supplied map without prior knowledge of the terrain on which the rogaine is to be held. Therefore, specific areas cannot be regularly reused. If, as has happened with every other landowner who has offered us access, you are happy with the conduct of the event, we may request to reuse it in 8-12 years time.
WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE AT EVENTS?
Some rogainers take their sport competitively, but for many it is an enjoyable social weekend in the bush challenging themselves against the terrain and the course. However, because of the length of events, teams arrive either, just before an event or they arrive early and catch up on some sleep. Because the event is physically taxing, competitors are either participating or resting. A bit of socializing occurs after the event and during longer events for those who wish to take time out. This is often around a campfire if the landholder permits, and if there is no bushfire hazard. No alcohol is sold at an event. It is also against the rules to smoke at an event. There is no loud music or announcers. All participants are required to stay in the start/finish area when they are not competing in the event and can only traverse the course on foot. We provide all the food they need from a food tent.
WILL THE PRIVACY OF MY PROPERTY BE PROTECTED?
Yes. We do not publicly advertise the location of events. Participants are required to enter at least one week in advance of an event, once we receive their entry; they are sent details of how to get to the start finish area. The area around houses and sheds and any other area requested by the landowner are marked as an “Out of Bounds” area on the maps provided and course is designed so that competitors need not traverse these areas. Media (TV, radio, newspapers) have not attended rogaine events to date, and would be invited only in consultation with the landholder. This is very much a low-key activity.
WHO CARRIES THE PUBLIC LIABILITY FOR THE EVENT?
QRA is an incorporated body and accepts the public liability for the event. QRA has insured itself against public liability. All competitors are required to be members of either the QRA or another Australian state rogaining association. By becoming a member of QRA and entering into an event, they undertake the sport at their own personal risk. QRA does everything reasonably possible to ensure that the rogaine area is safe. Since rogaining began in the 1940’s there has never been a public liability claim.
The Australian Rogaining Association Inc (ARA), with whom we are affiliated, holds Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million in respect of all rogaining events conducted by ARA affiliated bodies. This insurance indemnifies landowners for acts of negligence by the Insured arising out of their participation in the rogaining event including time spent at the event site by organisers and participants in preparations for, and packing up after, the event. A copy of the current Certificate of Insurance can be provided on request or can be viewed at
IS THE SPORT SIMILAR TO ORIENTEERING?
To some degree yes. Both rogaining and orienteering are part of a range of “map and compass” (navigation) sports. Rogaining differs from orienteering in several ways,
Rogaining is a team sport while orienteering is an individual sport; Rogaining is conducted over a set time up to 24 hours while orienteering is conducted over a set course of up to 20 km; an orienteering race is usually set with a maximum winning time of 90 minutes whilst a rogaine is much longer - up to 24 hours; Rogaining can be conducted on standard published topographic maps of scales of 1:25000 to 1:50000 whereas orienteering uses specially prepared and expensive detailed maps of scales 1:10000 to 1:15000; Rogaining can involve nighttime navigation while most orienteering is daytime only; Rogainers set their own course prior to the start while orienteers follow a set course based on their age group.
Both rogaining and orienteering can be done using mountain bikes but only on suitable terrain and supported by a road/track network.
Queensland Rogaine Association Contact Details
PresidentPaul Guard, phone 0405 673 986, email
Vice-PresidentDavid Firman, phone 07 3356 3582
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Queensland Rogaine Association Inc.PO Box 912 Spring Hill Qld 4004
Rogaining - the sport of long-distance cross-country navigation