What is Rogaining

About the Intervarsity Championships

To participate in an Australian Intervarsity Rogaining Championships, students must be enrolled at a tertiary education institution recognised by UniSport Australia.

Teams consist of 2-5 students from the same university. Both part-time and full-time students are eligible. There is no age restriction, ie. under-graduate, mature age and post-graduate students qualify.

The Intervarsity rogaining competition began in 1969 and from 1981 was coordinated by the Australian Rogaining Association.

Travel bursaries are available to cover the travel costs of one team from each state/territory to compete at the Intervarsity Rogaining Championships.

The Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation (NAMSF) sponsored the re-establishment of the Intervarsity competition in 2007. The NAMSF provided a perpetual trophy for the winning Intervarsity team named ‘The Nigel Aylott trophy’. For many years the Foundation paid the travel costs for one university team from each state so that there can be a well-represented national competition. The Foundation left a generous legacy to the Australian Rogaining Association to enable continuation of this support.

State Rogaining Associations are responsible for determining their own selection criteria for the travel bursaries (ie. a single qualifying event, or a cumulative point score from multiple events, whether 24 hour or shorter qualifying events). However, for the purposes of the subsidy, preference must be given to under-graduate full time students.

Entrants should contact their state rogaining association as soon as possible for details about their selection process for the state representative team.

Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation

The Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation was set up in memory of Nigel Aylott to encourage engagement in the outdoor sports of rogaining and adventure racing. The Foundation left the Australian Rogaining Association a generous donation to enable us to continue the valuable work of the NAMSF in the promotion and development of youth participation in rogaining.

Who was Nigel Aylott

Nigel Aylott showed some talent as a long-distance runner at school but at university got into the full range of outdoor activities available through the Monash BushWalking Club, which included skiing, kayaking, and rogaining. As his endurance and navigation skill developed, so did his success at rogaining, eventually winning the World Rogaining Championships in 1998 and the Australian Rogaining Championships in 2000 and 2001.

As adventure racing developed, Nigel saw it as the natural progression from long-distance running and rogaining. He loved experiencing the different locations in which the adventure races were set. Nigel competed in several Southern Traverse and EcoChallenge events before teaming up with Tom Landon-Smith, Alina McMaster, and Matt Dalziel to form the successful team AROC. Nigel was tragically killed in the 2004 Primal Quest race after being hit by a large boulder dislodged at the top of a gully.

Nigel was highly regarded in the community and friends encouraged Nigel’s family to set up the foundation to leave a legacy by supporting the sports Nigel loved and gave so much to.

The Next Championships

The 2026 Australian Intervarsity Rogaining Championships will be held in conjunction with the Australasian Rogaining Championships on 29-30 August. Travel bursaries are available for university students - contact your State/Territory rogaining association to apply.

Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation. The championship rogaine is a continuous twenty four hour event. Teamwork, endurance, strategy and map reading are features of the sport. Rogaining originated in Australia, where the sport can be traced to the creation of the rules in 1968 and the first intervarsity 24 hour score orienteering competition in 1969.

The objective of rogaining is to collect the highest score by finding checkpoints within a set time limit. Teams of two to five members travel entirely on foot, navigating with the aid of a topographic map and analogue compass. Teams select their own order of visiting checkpoints, in terrain that varies from open countryside to hilly forest. The classic rogaine includes both day and night navigation.

At many rogaines a central base camp provides hot meals and teams may return at any time to eat, rest or enjoy the fellowship. Teams travel at their own pace, and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at individual levels of competition and comfort.

Rogaining aims to support and encourage people to develop respect for and enjoyment of rural and forest environments; and to encourage the development of navigational skills, self reliance, general fitness, and the ability to work in a team.

What is the duration?
The traditional rogaine is 24 hours in duration. However, there are also shorter events of 6, 8 and 12 hours. Most events are located within a two hour drive of major cities. Rogaines are held on foot in picturesque bush and farmland locations, however, some events are held in metropolitan areas (Metrogaines), on bikes (Cyclogaines) and on cross-country skis (Snogaines).

Rogaining is a real adventure sport and is a lot of fun.

Who is it for?
Rogaining is a team activity for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Everyone from elite athletes to families with young children can enjoy rogaining. New rogainers are always welcome and event organisers are willing to help you get started. The parts of the course you visit are entirely up to you and your team members. There are no set routes and you don’t have to spend the whole time on the course. You can even return to the Hash House at anytime for some hot food and rest around the campfire, or even a sleep, before heading out again. Some competitive teams may cover 50 km in a 12 hour event and even more in an event of 24 hours duration. However, the distance you travel is entirely up to you. The satisfaction comes in finding your way around the course according to the route that you have chosen, and navigating back to the finish within the time limit.

What do you need?
Rogaining is good value for money; all you need is basic bushwalking gear including a compass, whistle, pencil, water bottle, comfortable and warm clothes and shoes, and a basic team first aid kit. On 12 and 24 hour events you may also wish to bring along camping gear and spend some time resting overnight at the Hash House.

What does it cost?
Entry fees vary from $20 to $80, depending on the event. This covers hot food during and at the finish of the event, your map, information sheets and facilities at the Hash House.

How does it work?
Between 1 and 3 hours (depending on the length of the event) before the start of the event, each participant receives a map of the course with all the checkpoints marked on it. They also receive a description of the checkpoints and their point values. Teams choose their own route to get to whichever checkpoints they want. It is important to get back before the time limit expires as there are hefty point penalties for being late. At each checkpoint there is a punch to make a hole at the corresponding numbered square on the control card. Rogaining is a team sport and the team MUST stay together at all times