Total Recon 36-Hour Adventure Race to Host the Oceania Championships on South Australia’s Wild Fleurieu Peninsula

Press Release / 30.10.2025

Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia [Nov 1-2] — The Total Recon 36-Hour Adventure Race is set to return bigger than ever in November 2025, proudly hosting the Oceania Championships for the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS).  Competitors from across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Asia-Pacific region will descend on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula to test their endurance, teamwork, and navigation across one of the country’s most spectacular coastal landscapes.

This year’s Total Recon promises a truly world-class course that showcases the Fleurieu’s wild diversity — from windswept beaches and rugged cliffs to native forests, river systems, and remote wilderness.  Teams will mountain bike, trek and paddle a 36-hour journey that captures the raw essence of adventure racing.

“The Fleurieu Peninsula is an adventure racer’s dream,” said Morgan Coull, Race Director of Total Recon. “We’ve designed a course that immerses athletes in the full beauty and challenge of this region — from the Murray Mouth and the Coorong wetlands to the Wild South Coast Way and the steep ridges of Deep Creek National Park. It’s a breathtaking setting for the Oceania Championships.”

In addition to the flagship 36-hour ARWS Oceania Championship, MMI Events have planned the event weekend to feature shorter supporting races designed to welcome new and developing athletes into the sport of adventure racing. These include a 2 day stage race and a family-friendly 6 hour introductory sprint race, ensuring there’s an experience for everyone who loves the outdoors.

“Total Recon is about more than competition,” added Coull. “It’s about community, discovery, and connection — with nature, teammates, and the incredible people of the Fleurieu Peninsula.”

The Oceania Championship designation places Total Recon alongside the most prestigious adventure races in the region, offering qualifying points for ARWS Oceania rankings and for the winners a free place at the Adventure Racing World Championship 2027 in Corsica.  It’s a major milestone for South Australia’s adventure racing scene and a showcase for the state’s growing reputation as a destination for outdoor endurance sports.

The championship category features mixed teams of 4 and some of the most experienced racers in Australia will be taking part.  It should be a closely contested race with Team Not Known, led by Tim Boote, the marginal favourites ahead of Maelstrom, who include two experienced female racers Elizabeth Dornom and Shelley Bambrook, and  Tri-ActiV8 led by Dave Talbot.  However, the MMI Half Bonked team has local knowledge and could break into the top three.  This team is led by Colombian national Sebastian Silva Lopez, and includes Kiwi racer Tiaan Mckinnel.

All teams will need to navigate the course to find checkpoints using map and compass, and will race non-stop, through day and night.  Race fans will be able to follow their progress as teams carry satellite trackers.  The race tracking can be followed online at https://live.trackmelive.com.au/totalrecon25/

A Region Built for Adventure

The Fleurieu Peninsula, just an hour south of Adelaide, offers a unique combination of coastal wilderness and rural charm.

• The Coorong and Murray Mouth present a maze of waterways, lagoons, and shifting sand dunes — a paradise for paddlers and a landscape steeped in Ngarrindjeri culture.

• Victor Harbor and the surrounding coastline provide dramatic ocean vistas, granite headlands, and wildlife encounters including whales, seals, and dolphins.

• The Wild South Coast Way, one of Australia’s premier long-distance trails, will challenge competitors with its rugged cliff-top paths and sweeping Southern Ocean views.

• Deep Creek National Park, the state’s largest remaining area of natural vegetation on the Fleurieu, adds steep climbs, dense bushland, and technical terrain that will test even the most experienced racers.

Event Information;

• Total Recon 36-Hour Adventure Race & Oceania Championships
• Location: Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
• Race HQ; Adare House, Victor Harbor
• Date: November 1-2
• Race Times: Saturday 6.00 to Sunday 18.00
• Stages; Trek/run 30-40kms (3 legs) mountain bike 160kms (4 legs) & kayak 35kms (2 legs)
• Supporting Events: 2 Day Stage Race & 6 Hour Sprint Race
• https://www.mmievents.net.au/events/totalrecon-arws-oceania
• https://www.facebook.com/MurraylandsMultisports
• https://www.instagram.com/murraylandsmultisports