| Next Event:
Cross country [Short Course]: Sunday 25th May, 9 am Mount Louisa
Organiser:Trevor Brown 0412 057390 |
Welcome to the Totally Tropical Orienteering web page. We are located in North Queensland and have members in Cairns, Townsville and Atherton. Our usual events have a turnout of about 10-20 people, so we are a relatively small group in comparison with our southern Queensland counterparts. Events are held about once every three weeks.
You are given a map with the location of controls (also known as checkpoints, markers or flags) marked on it, and the goal is to find and visit them all as quickly as possible. There is not only the challenge of running the fastest and being fit, but there is an element of brain power involved. It is up to the competitor to decide which way they will go (route choice). Factors such as distance, fitness of the competitor, and terrain have to be considered. Another challenge of orienteers is how to use the map, compass, and observations of the terrain effectivly.
Do not let this daunt you if you have never gone orienteering before, because there are a variety of courses at each event to suit different abilities. In a blue course, the controls are in sight of one another, if you are at one control, you can see the next one from where you are standing. Green courses always stick to tracks or fence lines, and orange course controls are placed at obvious features. Red course controls can be placed on subtle ridges for extra challenge. Red courses come in the long and short variety depending on how far you feel like running. For more information on the variety of courses offered, see the types of courses page.
Come to North Queensland for Orienteering and you will discover a wide variety of unique orienteering experiences. Because of our small group size, you will know all the faces in no time. Turn up at the Mingela event and have free pig every Sunday (just about the only building in town). Pick spear grass out of your socks after a Palm Tree Creek event. Or you can jump in for a quick dip in rust coloured water near Tinaroo Dam, on the Atherton Tablelands. You can even have a try of Russels' famous home brew at just about any event.
Sounds interesting? Have a look at the below to get in touch.Remember to check out the calendar for other future events.
Visitors since 01/12/2001: