Bush Orienteering

Bush Orienteering is more than just a trail run, involving moving off the trail into the bush. There is no marked route on the ground; the aim is to reach pre-determined control points using a map for navigation. The key is concentration and the ability to make quick decisions while moving as fast as you can. It’s not just for runners, but walkers as well, with courses available for everyone regardless of fitness or age.

Bush orienteering is generally held in Autumn through to Spring.

OV Calendar 2023 v8 2 February 2023

Weekend events are held throughout Victoria,  with the main events being:

  • MelBushO – an introductory series of events close to Melbourne.
  • Bendigo regional series – an accessible series catering for both new and experienced participants.
  • Autumn and Spring series – these events, at locations across the state, have courses for all. Experience the excitement of navigating some of Victoria’s best forests.
  • Two Victorian Championship events are held each year. These are open to all, providing the opportunity to test yourself against your peers or to simply provide another excuse to get out into the bush.
  • The Victorian Relays are a chance for club based teams to compete head to head in an exciting annual contest
  • Standalone events, each with a unique format, eg Maxi 3 Hour, Bendigo ToDay

Want to know more: check out New to Bush Orienteering , and the series that interests you

Oceania Long and Middle Distance Championship Highlights Videos

With the help of the Victorian Government  highlights videos have been created of the Oceania Long Distance and Middle Distance championships held in October 2019.
Orienteering Victoria trusts this gives you a flavour of the major bush events we run.
Scroll down to view upcoming events.

Latest Bush Orienteering Events

Day Date Event Organiser Activity
Saturday 25-Mar-23 Course Setting Workshop Orienteering Victoria Foot orienteering
Saturday 25-Mar-23 Come and Try It: 2 Ironstone Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 26-Mar-23 MFR Training Day - Chewton Diggings Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 01-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 1 - Stumpy Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Apr-23 Victorian Club Relays - Team Entries - Woowookarung, Ballarat Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Apr-23 Victorian Club Relays - Individual Entries - Woowookarung, Ballarat Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 15-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 2 - Royal George Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 29-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 3 - Wildflower Drive Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 30-Apr-23 MelBushO 2 - Brimbank Park, Keilor Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 06-May-23 NOL & Vic Series (Bush) 1 - Wattle Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 07-May-23 NOL & Vic Series (Bush) 2 - Wattle Gully Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 13-May-23 Bendigo Bush 4 - Sedgwick South Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 14-May-23 MelBushO 3 - Banksia Park, Bulleen Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Friday 19-May-23 Victorian Secondary School Event Orienteering Victoria Foot orienteering
Saturday 20-May-23 Bendigo Bush 5 - Psalm Singing Gully - Inglewood Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 27-May-23 Bendigo Training - Score event - Crusoe Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 28-May-23 Vic Series (Bush) 3 - Kookaburra Rises, Glenluce Central Highlands Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 03-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 6 - Mount Tarrengower Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 04-Jun-23 MelBushO 4 - Eaglemont Flats, Ivanhoe Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 10-Jun-23 Vic Series (Bush) 4 - Granite Hills, South Morang Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Sunday 11-Jun-23 Vic Series (Bush) 5 - Gellibrand Hill, Greenvale Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 17-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 7 - Kangaroo Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 18-Jun-23 MelBushO 5 - Yellow Gum Park, Yan Yean Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 24-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 8 - One Tree Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 25-Jun-23 Ballart Winter Series #1 Nerrina Eureka Orienteers Mountain bike orienteering,
Foot orienteering
Saturday 01-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 9 - Virginia Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Jul-23 MelBushO 6 - Westerfolds Park, Templestowe Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #2 Yuille Wetlands Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 08-Jul-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - New St Mungo Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 09-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #3 Federation Uni Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 15-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 10 - Fiddlers Green Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 16-Jul-23 MelBushO 7 - Candlebark Park (from Westerfolds), Templestowe Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 22-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 11 - Smiths Reef Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 23-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #4 Lake Daylesford Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering,
Park and street orienteering
Saturday 29-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 12 - Lyell Forrest Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 30-Jul-23 MelBushO 8 - Plenty Gorge, South Morang Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 05-Aug-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Diamond Hill South Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 06-Aug-23 Vic Series (Bush) 6 - Musk Vale, Daylesford Bayside Kangaroos Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 12-Aug-23 Bendigo Bush 13 - Diamond Hill North Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 13-Aug-23 MelBushO 9 - Cardinia Reservoir Park Bayside Kangaroos Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 19-Aug-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Norfolk Hero Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 20-Aug-23 Vic Series (Bush) 7 - Boundary Creek, Malmsbury Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 26-Aug-23 Bendigo Bush 14 - Lockwood Range Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 02-Sep-23 Victorian Middle Distance Championships - Mt Alexander, Harcourt Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Sunday 03-Sep-23 Victorian Long Distance Championships - Mt Alexander, Harcourt Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 09-Sep-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Mandurang Coolibah Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 10-Sep-23 Vic Series (Bush) 8 - Mt Lofty, Redesdale Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 16-Sep-23 Bendigo Bush 15 - Mount Kooyoora Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Day Date Event Organiser Activity
Saturday 25-Mar-23 Course Setting Workshop Orienteering Victoria Foot orienteering
Saturday 25-Mar-23 Come and Try It: 2 Ironstone Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 26-Mar-23 MFR Training Day - Chewton Diggings Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 01-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 1 - Stumpy Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Apr-23 Victorian Club Relays - Team Entries - Woowookarung, Ballarat Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Apr-23 Victorian Club Relays - Individual Entries - Woowookarung, Ballarat Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 15-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 2 - Royal George Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 29-Apr-23 Bendigo Bush 3 - Wildflower Drive Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 30-Apr-23 MelBushO 2 - Brimbank Park, Keilor Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 06-May-23 NOL & Vic Series (Bush) 1 - Wattle Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 07-May-23 NOL & Vic Series (Bush) 2 - Wattle Gully Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 13-May-23 Bendigo Bush 4 - Sedgwick South Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 14-May-23 MelBushO 3 - Banksia Park, Bulleen Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Friday 19-May-23 Victorian Secondary School Event Orienteering Victoria Foot orienteering
Saturday 20-May-23 Bendigo Bush 5 - Psalm Singing Gully - Inglewood Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 27-May-23 Bendigo Training - Score event - Crusoe Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 28-May-23 Vic Series (Bush) 3 - Kookaburra Rises, Glenluce Central Highlands Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 03-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 6 - Mount Tarrengower Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 04-Jun-23 MelBushO 4 - Eaglemont Flats, Ivanhoe Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 10-Jun-23 Vic Series (Bush) 4 - Granite Hills, South Morang Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Sunday 11-Jun-23 Vic Series (Bush) 5 - Gellibrand Hill, Greenvale Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 17-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 7 - Kangaroo Gully Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 18-Jun-23 MelBushO 5 - Yellow Gum Park, Yan Yean Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 24-Jun-23 Bendigo Bush 8 - One Tree Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 25-Jun-23 Ballart Winter Series #1 Nerrina Eureka Orienteers Mountain bike orienteering,
Foot orienteering
Saturday 01-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 9 - Virginia Hill Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Jul-23 MelBushO 6 - Westerfolds Park, Templestowe Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Sunday 02-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #2 Yuille Wetlands Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 08-Jul-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - New St Mungo Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 09-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #3 Federation Uni Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 15-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 10 - Fiddlers Green Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 16-Jul-23 MelBushO 7 - Candlebark Park (from Westerfolds), Templestowe Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 22-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 11 - Smiths Reef Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 23-Jul-23 Ballarat Winter Series #4 Lake Daylesford Eureka Orienteers Foot orienteering,
Park and street orienteering
Saturday 29-Jul-23 Bendigo Bush 12 - Lyell Forrest Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 30-Jul-23 MelBushO 8 - Plenty Gorge, South Morang Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 05-Aug-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Diamond Hill South Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 06-Aug-23 Vic Series (Bush) 6 - Musk Vale, Daylesford Bayside Kangaroos Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 12-Aug-23 Bendigo Bush 13 - Diamond Hill North Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 13-Aug-23 MelBushO 9 - Cardinia Reservoir Park Bayside Kangaroos Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 19-Aug-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Norfolk Hero Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 20-Aug-23 Vic Series (Bush) 7 - Boundary Creek, Malmsbury Yarra Valley Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 26-Aug-23 Bendigo Bush 14 - Lockwood Range Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Saturday 02-Sep-23 Victorian Middle Distance Championships - Mt Alexander, Harcourt Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Sunday 03-Sep-23 Victorian Long Distance Championships - Mt Alexander, Harcourt Melbourne Forest Racers Foot orienteering
Saturday 09-Sep-23 Bendigo Training - Score Event - Mandurang Coolibah Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering
Sunday 10-Sep-23 Vic Series (Bush) 8 - Mt Lofty, Redesdale Nillumbik Emus Orienteering Club Foot orienteering
Saturday 16-Sep-23 Bendigo Bush 15 - Mount Kooyoora Bendigo Orienteers Foot orienteering

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