Overview – Smiths Gully Race

RACE 2 EVENT PROGRAM: The event program for Smiths Gully is essential reading for all event attendees and covers details like event schedule, course descriptions, car parking and more. READ IT HERE.


SUNDAY 10 JULY, 2022

Smiths Gully in the Yarra Valley returns as part of 2022 Trail Running Series and is proving to be one of the most popular venues in the Series. Who’s ready to tackle the Rob Roy again?

Smiths Gully is a small rural region located in Melbourne’s north eastern outskirts with a delightful mix of farming and bushland, rolling hills and quaint country villages filled with charismatic general stores and well stocked bakeries.

WHERE: Smiths Gully – Rob Roy Hill Climb Venue
START TIMES: For the full race day schedule including start times, click HERE.
DISTANCES:

  • Long Course: 18km
  • Medium Course: 14km
  • Short Course: 7.5km

The event centre is located at the infamous Rob Roy Hill Climb (see notes below) whilst all race courses enjoy a diverse mix of 2wd, 4wd roads and sweeping single track through the surrounding bushland. Runners will enjoy views across the Yarra Valley to the south and King Lake to the north whilst following an undulating course that has plenty of variety.

These little known trails will open your eyes to the beautiful rural regions surrounding Melbourne and broaden your love for trail running by exploring somewhere new!

The Rob Roy Hill Climb is a purpose built 695m hill climb race track (for cars!) dating back to 1935 and at the time of its construction was one of only three bitumen surfaced purpose built hillclimbs in the world. It is currently leased to the MG Car Club and is still in regular usage. Read more about the track here.

Spectator info

The Rob Roy site is a pleasant place to visit and hang out whilst your friends / family do their race. It is an open area with plenty of fresh air and green grass that’s often acquainted by kangaroos who come to nibbling the grass. Spectators are more than welcome to the walk the 695m hill climb ‘race track’ and envisage what it would have been like to race historic cars up it back in the 1930’s!

The surrounding Smiths Gully and Yarra Valley areas are filled with innumerable things to do and places to stop, ranging from wineries and cafes through to local markets and galleries with plenty of places to dive into after a successful run in the hills. Brunch anyone!

Click here for more information about the Yarra Valley.

2022 Official Event T-Shirt

The Trail Running Series 2022 Official Event T-Shirt will be for all GOLD runners who enter 4 or 5 races in the Series. It will NOT be available to purchase at the events – all the more reason to become a GOLD runner by entering the Series prior to Race 2.

Highlights Video – 2021 Race at Smiths Gully.

Sunshine, trails, fresh air and freedom = all combined to make the perfect event for 850+ super stoked trail runners at Smiths Gully today. Spot yourself, tag your friends or watch along to see how the Trail Series rolls in this fun highlight video shot by our good friend at The Matt Image.