Introduction

Orienteering is a sport in which participants use a map and compass to find points in the landscape. This page provides a brief overview of orienteering and an index to other information that will be of value to prospective orienteers. The following information is available:

What is Orienteering?

Orienteering offers people the chance to learn how to navigate confidently - whether it be through local streets and parks of Melbourne or out in the state forests in Victoria. While there are many forms of orienteering, the common element that applies to all of these is a map. In most cases, the map identifies :

  • Where you start; usually identified by a triangle. As you leave the start, your name, course and start time will be recorded.
     
  • A series of control sites that are to be visited by you; these are marked by circles and numbered in the order (1, 2, 3, 4....) in which you must visit them.
  • A description of what to look for at the Control Site - e.g. 1m rock, track junction, head of watercourse - this is called a 'feature' and is usually marked on the map. The circle that appears on the map is centred around the feature to be found - with a bright flag and punch located at the centre of the circle. The picture to the right shows a runner visiting a control site - the punches on the control stand are used by the runner to mark his control card to prove that he has visited the control site.
     
  • A finish location; where organisers will welcome you back, record your finish time and calculate your result. (Note that although the time is recorded, many orienteers take part for the enjoyment of being there - the walking category is one of the fastest growing aspects of orienteering).
     
  • Other things that might be on a map include:
     
    • Key or Legend - that identifies what each of the symbols on the map mean
    • The map scale - that allows you to work out how far it is between points on the map
    • The contour interval - contours are lines on the map that tell you how high/low various points are. The contour interval is the height distance between adjacent contour lines - typically 5 metres.
    • North-South lines - that tell you which way is North - so you can turn the map so that features on the ground are aligned correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orienteer visiting a Control Site

Why do people orienteer?

Lots of reasons!

Fitness - many of the ailments that afflict modern society are caused by a lack of exercise. Orienteering offers an enjoyable way of getting exercise - the mental challenge of navigation takes your mind off the fact that you're running/walking. Before you know it you're back at the finish having walked/run 3-8 Km (depending on course selected).

Getting out in the bush - the Australian bush offers easy running in superb terrain. Bush events are centred around Winter - so you can enjoy the crisp/cool conditions punctuated by the occasional meeting with wildlife (kangaroos, wallabies) that share the forests with us.

Social atmosphere - although it's a competitive sport, the vast majority of orienteers don't take it too seriously. A key part of the sport is the social environment before and after events - where you can swap stories with peers or ask advice from more experienced orienteers. A network of orienteering clubs, covering most areas in Victoria, offers nearby contacts who will help you out until you find your own way in orienteering.

Learn to navigate - while navigating through the bush can be very challenging, this is only for the advanced courses. Every orienteering event caters for a range of skills and fitness - a typical event offers a range of courses with distances of 2-18 Km and navigational difficulty from Very Easy through to Hard.

It's a family sport - the range of courses provided offers one suitable for every person in the family from 8 to 80; there's even a string course for young children to entertain them and introduce them to some of the concepts in orienteering at an early age.

It's a kid's sport - orienteering builds confidence in young people. By allowing participants to take part in a range of courses - at their own pace - orienteering offers a non-threatening way of learning how to navigate and to increase fitness. Typically, orienteering gives 10-12 year olds the ability and self-assurance required to venture out alone and complete a 3-5 Km course through the bush. Orienteering gives young people a level of self-confidence that few other sports or pastimes can offer.

It's an adult's sport - orienteering is often known as "cunning running" - and as we get older, this cunning becomes more and more important. Orienteering is a sport in which the fastest runner does not always win; navigational mistakes can be costly - and a slow/accurate navigator will often beat faster less accurate people.

It's well organised - if you like taking part in something that's really well run or even helping to run events, orienteering offers plenty of opportunity here. Most people that take part in orienteering events are surprised at the level of organisation that is apparent.

It's reasonably priced - prices vary - from $2-3 for park and/or street runs in the suburbs of Melbourne to $8-15 for bush events and major competitions. Higher prices are charged for events that use colour-printed maps and require a large amount of work to arrange. Low-key events such as street events or club events charge lower-prices.

Who can take part?

Any person who can get around a course of 1.5 km or more. People of both sexes and all ages and fitness levels can participate - on a course that suits them - at the pace they choose. They can participate singly or as a group. Most Orienteers complete courses as fast as their fitness and map reading ability allows. This can be a rate of about 4mins per Kilometre for elites, to 30 minutes or more per kilometre for newcomers and others. It is a sport where all members of a family, from grandparents to toddlers, can and do, participate at the same event.

When is the next orienteering event?

You can find out more about the types of event available and events in the near future from our Events Page. This page is accessible from most pages on this site by selecting the Events option in the events menu. The Coming Events link in this menu provides details of all events in the current season.

Taking part in your first event

OK, you understand the concepts and you've selected your first event. What now?

We recommend that you contact somebody associated with the event (usually the organiser of the event - contact details listed in the Event Calendar) or someone in an orienteering club near you. Either of these will be pleased to help you get to the event and will arrange for somebody to look after you at the event.

The VOA have prepared a Getting Started Brochure which covers most facets of one's first event; why not take a printed copy of this to your first event as a checklist. An html copy of this information is available if you would like to read it now.

For more information

The links below provide access to other information that may be of value to you: