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Competitors from across Australia and New Zealand tackled rainforest trails, mountain bike tracks and coastal waters as the Amazon Adventure Race returned to Mission Beach, challenging women to push beyond their limits over three demanding days. Photo credit: Margarete Oti Oliverira
Rain-soaked rainforests, rough seas, mountain trails and endless kilometres tested the grit of competitors as the Amazon Adventure Race returned to Mission Beach for its second year.
Over three demanding days, 25 all-female teams from across Australia and New Zealand tackled an unforgiving course through the Cassowary Coast, navigating by map and compass as they hiked, paddled and mountain biked across some of the region's most spectacular and challenging landscapes.
For many competitors, including Mission Beach locals Angela Olsen and Elizabeth Stavreski, it was their first taste of adventure racing. Despite being pushed well beyond their comfort zones, crossing the finish line became a triumph they will never forget.
Race directors Jan Leverton and Kim Beckinsale say the event is about far more than competition, creating an environment where women can challenge themselves, build confidence and discover what they're truly capable of.
Mission Beach once again became Australia's adventure racing capital as 25 all-female teams took on the Amazon Adventure Race, tackling three days of hiking, mountain biking, paddling and navigation through some of the Cassowary Coast's most spectacular landscapes.
Returning for its second year, the event attracted competitors from across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand, all eager to test themselves in an adventure stage race unlike any other.
Created by race directors Jan Leverton and Kim Beckinsale, who have spent more than 25 years competing in adventure racing, the event was designed to challenge women while making the sport more accessible.
"We wanted to put an event on for women that was challenging but also nice, so we made it a stage race where they get to sleep every night," Jan said.
"With adventure racing you can't predict the distances, as they navigate themselves with a map and compass. Every day they're doing a bit of paddling, mountain biking and trekking."
Each day, competitors had eight hours to complete as much of the course as possible, relying solely on their navigation skills to find checkpoints scattered across the region.
The challenging course took racers through Tully Gorge, deep into tropical rainforest, across mixed cycling terrain and into the waters surrounding Dunk Island. However, unpredictable tropical weather added another layer of difficulty, with heavy rain and strong winds forcing organisers to make last-minute changes throughout the event.
For Mission Beach locals Angela Olsen and Elizabeth Stavreski, watching the inaugural race last year was enough to convince them to sign up.
"It was very tough, we were very much out of our depth with all of it. First adventure race, longest time I've ever been on a bike or Kayak, on foot and we finished it!" Angela said.
"We warmed into it, our first two days were tough but today which is our 3rd day was our best performance by a long shot," Elizabeth said.
Despite the physical demands, competitors were rewarded with unforgettable encounters with the region's natural beauty.
"We see so many different and cool things, cassowaries, feral pigs, turtles and a dugongs," Kristina O'Dwyer said.
She and teammate Genevieve Healy, from Brisbane, completed their second Amazon Adventure Race with an overwhelming sense of achievement.
"That last little bit was hard but I'm very happy to be here and I'm very proud of ourselves," Genevieve said.
For Jan, the event is about much more than crossing the finish line.
"We're really happy that we've got these strong, amazing women and we've developed them. Everyone's sort of loving the event, it's really hard out there… they were stretched out of their comfort zones," she said.
"To us is so exciting that we've helped women be that, you know, that next level and put them up on a pedestal."
While the race tested competitors physically and mentally, it also celebrated resilience, teamwork and courage, proving that the greatest achievement wasn't simply completing the course—it was discovering just how much they were capable of.
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