Kanku-Breakaways Bolt 2026

About the Event

Coober Pedy, South Australia. Outback. Kanku‑Breakaways Conservation Park. The Kanku‑Breakaways Bolt returns on Sunday, June 7, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM. Choose marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21.1 km), 10 km run/walk, 5 km run/walk, or 2.5 km kids fun run. Or ride your bike — 72 km, 36 km, 21.1 km, or 10 km. Walk the half marathon, 10 km, or 5 km. Stunning outback scenery — colourful hills, breakaway mesas, and panoramic views. Something for everyone. SOLD OUT for 2026 (all categories closed).

Marathon (42.2 km) — Run
Sunday, June 7, 8:00 AM start • Two laps of the out‑and‑back 21.1 km course

Half Marathon (21.1 km) — Run or Walk
One lap of the out‑and‑back course • Open to all ages (under 16 discount)

10 km — Run or Walk
Single lap • Through the coloured hills of the Breakaways

5 km — Run or Walk
Between Kanku‑Pulka and Angata lookouts • Two laps

2.5 km Kids Fun Run
Free entry • From Kanku‑Pulka to Angata lookout and back

72 km Bike Ride
Two laps of the 36 km out‑and‑back track (Kanku‑Pulka to Kempe Rd)

36 km / 21.1 km / 10 km Bike Ride
Shorter ride options for all abilities

Location — Kanku‑Breakaways Conservation Park, Coober Pedy, South Australia:

Kanku‑Breakaways Conservation Park is located 30 km north of Coober Pedy, on the Stuart Highway
Coober Pedy is known as the "opal capital of the world" — famous for underground homes, underground churches, and moonscape desert terrain
The Breakaways are a stunning series of flat‑topped mesas (breakaways) with vibrant colours — ochre, white, orange, and red — that change dramatically with the light
The park is jointly managed by the Antakirinja Matuntjara Yankunytjatjara people (traditional owners) and the South Australian government
The course uses unsealed roads and tracks within the park — dry, dusty, and remote

Course Details — Running Events:

Marathon: two laps of the 21.1 km out‑and‑back course (same as half marathon)
Half marathon: one lap of the out‑and‑back course between Kanku‑Pulka lookout and the turn‑around point
10 km: single lap through the coloured hills
5 km: two laps between Kanku‑Pulka and Angata lookouts
2.5 km kids fun run: from Kanku‑Pulka to Angata lookout and back
All courses are on unsealed, compacted dirt/gravel roads — suitable for trail shoes or road shoes with good grip

Bike Ride Distances — All on Unsealed Roads:

72 km: two laps of the 36 km out‑and‑back course (Kanku‑Pulka to Kempe Rd)
36 km: one lap of the 36 km out‑and‑back course
21.1 km: half marathon distance on bike
10 km: short ride through the coloured hills
Mountain bikes or gravel bikes recommended — the roads are unsealed and can be rough in sections

What's Included (Entry Fee — All Categories):

Chip timing (not specified — likely manual or app‑based timing, check event website)
Finisher medal (likely — not specified)
Event shirt (not specified — check event website)
Aid stations on course (water, electrolyte — limited, self‑sufficiency recommended)
Medical support on course (limited — remote location, carry your own first aid)
Post‑race refreshments (water, fruit, snacks)
Stunning outback scenery — no traffic, no crowds, just desert silence

Sold Out — 2026 Registration Closed:

All categories are closed (marathon, half marathon, 10 km, 5 km, 2.5 km kids, all bike rides)
Registration period: May 5 — June 1, 2026
77 participants registered (as of this posting)
No race day registration — event is at capacity

Logistics — Remote Outback Event:

Coober Pedy is a remote town — 850 km north of Adelaide, 700 km south of Alice Springs
Access: drive (sealed highway) or fly to Coober Pedy Airport (regional flights from Adelaide)
Parking at Kanku‑Pulka lookout (start/finish area) — arrive early
Accommodation: Coober Pedy has underground hotels, motels, and campgrounds — book well in advance (winter is peak tourist season in the outback)
Bib pickup: race morning at the start/finish area (check event website for exact times)
No refunds? Check with race director Chevahn Hoad
No dogs allowed in the conservation park
No strollers recommended on unsealed, rocky roads (but possible for 2.5 km kids fun run)

Weather — Outback Winter (June):

Daytime temperatures: 15‑22°C (59‑72°F) — perfect for running
Nights: cold (0‑8°C / 32‑46°F) — bring warm clothes for before and after the race
Low humidity, clear skies, and little chance of rain
Sun protection essential — sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
Wind can be strong — be prepared for dust

What to Bring (Self‑Sufficiency Required):

Water bottle or hydration pack (aid stations are basic — carry enough for the distance)
Trail running shoes (unsealed roads with rocks and loose gravel)
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
Warm layers for before/after the race
Personal first aid kit (remote location — limited medical support)
Mobile phone (limited reception — but carry for emergencies)
Cash for post‑race purchases (no card facilities at the park)

Nearby Attractions — Make an Outback Adventure of It:

The Breakaways themselves — explore beyond the race course, watch sunrise or sunset over the mesas
Coober Pedy — underground homes (dugouts), underground churches, the Opal Museum, and the famous "Big Winch" lookout
Faye's Underground Home — a historic underground dwelling open to visitors
The Old Timers Mine — underground mining museum with original tunnels
Dog Fence (dingo fence) — one of the longest fences in the world, near Coober Pedy
Lake Eyre — 2 hours south (if wet, can be spectacular; if dry, a vast salt pan)
William Creek — tiny outback town with a historic pub, near the shores of Lake Eyre

Contact: Chevahn Hoad — phone 0499 982 999, website available.

Races Offered

10km Bike Ride

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$15.00

10km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$10.00

10km Run or Walk

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$15.00

10km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$10.00

2.5km Kids Fun Run

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 2.5K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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Free

21.1km Bike Ride

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 21K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$40.00

21.1km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 21K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$20.00

36km Bike Ride

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 36K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$35.00

36km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 36K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$25.00

5km Run or Walk

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

timer

08:00

sell

$10.00

5km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$5.00

72km Bike Ride

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 72K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$80.00

Half Marathon

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 21K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$40.00

Half Marathon (Under 16 years)

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 21K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

sell

$20.00

Marathon

Jun 07, 2026

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Distance — 42K

terrain

Type — Cycling, Running

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08:00

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$60.00

About the Event

Races Offered

10km Bike Ride

10km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

10km Run or Walk

10km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

2.5km Kids Fun Run

21.1km Bike Ride

21.1km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

36km Bike Ride

36km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

5km Run or Walk

5km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

72km Bike Ride

Half Marathon

Half Marathon (Under 16 years)

Marathon

Weather History

About Coober Pedy

Hotels & Places to Stay

Runner Reviews

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Kanku-Breakaways Bolt 2026

About the Event

Races Offered

10km Bike Ride

10km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

10km Run or Walk

10km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

2.5km Kids Fun Run

21.1km Bike Ride

21.1km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

36km Bike Ride

36km Bike Ride (Under 16 years)

5km Run or Walk

5km Run or Walk (Under 16 years)

72km Bike Ride

Half Marathon

Half Marathon (Under 16 years)

Marathon

Weather History

About Coober Pedy

Hotels & Places to Stay

Runner Reviews

No reviews yet

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Run Manatee - Rye Preserve 5K -2026

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Candy Cane Course- Lincoln

Space Coast Triathlon and Duathlon

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