Image Ben Goode
The Legend expedition adventure race was launched by Wild&Co in 2023 as part of the Adventure Racing World Series. In the first race teams crossed the Alpine mountains, forests and lakes of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. In the second edition teams took on the on the rugged coastline and wild hinterland of the Great Ocean Road. For 2025 teams crossed alpine peaks and remote lakes in a journey through one of the last true wilderness areas on earth in Southern Tasmania.
These spectacular journey’s undertaken on bikes, on foot and in kayaks have taken teams on a much bigger journey, one that will cross the half way mark in 2026 on our journey around Australia.
The Legend Expedition race is held annually, with each race moving to a new location, in a new state, travelling around Australia with the 2026 race to be based in South Australia.
Adventure racing teams will have the chance to circumnavigate Australia, as Dixon explains; “At the closing ceremony of the 2023 event we asked competing teams where they’d like to race next. There was such a diverse range of responses from the south western tip of Western Australia to the deserts of central Australia, from the island tropics of far North Queensland to the forests of Tasmania.
“In order to deliver on our vision to establish The Legend Expedition Race as the quintessential Australian expedition race – one that sees teams competing in the toughest sport on the planet, in the most iconic locations in Australia, we realised we needed to do it all.
“’Doing a big lap’ of Australia is dream that many in Australia and around the world have, and the Legend Expedition Race will be a unique and exciting way to fulfil that dream.”
The 2026 race will take place from 18-25 April 2026, and entries are now open on the race website at: www.legendexpd.com.au
Water is precious in South Australia and the Mighty Murray River is at its heart. It feeds the vines, the orchards, the floodplains. It’s home to pelicans gliding low over the water, fishers waiting patiently for a bite and the Ngarrindjeri people, whose stories have been carried by these currents for thousands of years.
The Murray offers the chance to race in area which has never been used for an expedition adventure race before. Towering ochre cliffs, winding waterways and big open skies – some of the darkest on earth – this is a place made for exploring.
Race HQ will be 1 hour drive from Adelaide airport, and is a popular step off point for those wanting to explore South Australia.
Dixon said, ”The world’s great rivers have been the backbone of exploration and adventure since the dawn of time. As teams travel the Murray River they will discover, to quote Heraclitus, ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.’
Adventure Racing World Series CEO Heidi Muller commented, “The ARWS has had an Australian expedition race in the calendar almost every year and Chris is carrying forward that great tradition. His vision to take The Legend to every Australian state is impressive and going from The Snowy Mountains to The Great Ocean Road, to Tasmania and now South Australia is a wonderful start! He is providing Australian racers with a unique opportunity to explore their country.”
The Legend format is a classic, non-stop 6 day adventure race involving trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and other adventure disciplines. The race is for teams of four and they must stay together and navigate their way unsupported through an epic 500+km course.
For those wanting to test out expedition racing there will also be a half course option next year. This will offer the same epic adventure and visit the most iconic locations, but teams will have the full 6 days to race half of the full course distance, allowing more inexperienced teams a greater chance of reaching the finish line.
Race Details
Date: 18-25 April 2026
Location: South Australia, Australia
Duration: 6 days / 500km & 250km (full and half course)
Entries: Open Now, Early Bird Ends 31 July
Team size: 2 or 4 person
