Pilliga Ultra Trail Run Aids Conservation
The Pilliga Ultra trail event in New South Wales uses running to connect athletes with the threatened Pilliga Forest, raising awareness and funds for its
The Pilliga Ultra is a trail running event designed to protect a forest. Organised by the environmental charity For Wild Places, the event in north-west New South Wales uses running to connect people with the threatened Pilliga Forest landscape.
For Wild Places believes people protect the places they know and love. The charity uses outdoor adventure to foster this connection. Its flagship Pilliga Ultra, now heading into its fourth edition, brings runners, volunteers, and advocates into one of Australia's largest remaining temperate woodlands.
Where and Why the Pilliga Matters
The Pilliga Forest spans over half a million hectares. It is Gomeroi Country and a critical recharge zone for the Great Artesian Basin. Yet, the source states it remains largely unknown to many Australians and is threatened by the proposed Narrabri Gas Project. This coal seam gas development could see hundreds of wells built across the region.
The event exists to change that obscurity. Pilliga Ultra invites participants to experience the forest firsthand. They learn why it matters and what endangers it.
More Than a Race Weekend
Participants spend a weekend immersed in the Pilliga. They run rugged tracks and gather for meals, film screenings, and conversations. They hear from Gomeroi leaders and local advocates. The model builds on a tradition within Australian trail running, similar to initiatives like takayna trails in Tasmania.
Trail runners understand landscapes are not mere backdrops. For Wild Places channels that connection into tangible action. The event does not force a choice between adventure and impact. It merges them.
Growth and Tangible Impact
The event has grown steadily since its first edition in 2022. Participant numbers illustrate this growth.
| Edition Year | Participant Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 90 |
| 2024 | 140 |
| 2025 | 200 |
The 2026 event is also expected to draw over 200 people. This growth matters because each participant becomes someone who has seen the Pilliga and understood its plight.
Funds raised support local and First Nations-led initiatives, environmental monitoring, and advocacy through the Pilliga Fund. In 2025, For Wild Places released a documentary titled Run For Country. Filmed during the ultra and produced with support from Paddy Pallin and Ben & Jerry's, the film follows the campaign to protect the forest. It has been screened at community events and selected for the RunNation 2026 Film Festival.
An Invitation to the Running Community
The approach is about invitation, not guilt. The source quotes the organisers' philosophy: "The trail becomes the invitation. The landscape becomes the reason." For Wild Places aims to bring new people, especially runners, into environmental advocacy. The trail running community is large and understands wild places. Many seek to make their running meaningful.
Pilliga Ultra offers that pathway. The hope is that participants leave with more than a finish time. They leave knowing the Pilliga's location and the threat it faces. They might leave wanting to share the story. This is how a race can become a donation, a volunteer shift, or a decision to stand with a community protecting Country. The finish line may just be the beginning.
