ABOUT COASTREK

Welcome to Coastrek, Australia's iconic team hiking challenge!

Coastrek is a national series of fundraising walks in the wild, hiking some of Australia’s most spectacular coastal trails in Sydney, the Mornington Peninsula, the Sunshine Coast, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Margaret River.

Multiple distances are offered - from 20km up to 50km - so both the ardent trekker and cautious beginner can challenge themselves in the outdoors in teams of two of more.

Teams are fully supported with a 12-week training program and an active community cheering them on from the point of registration until they cross the Finish Line and beyond!

Since the first event in 2009, Coastrek has transformed millions of lives. Over 80,000 trekkers have trained and completed Coastrek, improving their own health and wellbeing while raising over $52 million for some of Australia’s leading charities, including The Fred Hollows Foundation, the Heart Foundation and from 2025, Beyond Blue.

Are you ready to get wild?

WHAT IS COASTREK LIKE?

WHAT MAKES COASTREK DIFFERENT?

IT’S A TEAM CHALLENGE

TEAM: Together, Everyone Achieves More! Coastrek is all about friends and colleagues training, fundraising and hiking together as a team of two or more – it’s more fun, it keeps you on track and you’ve always got a buddy to encourage you. And Event Day is even sweeter when you have a team to celebrate with at the Finish Line!

IT'S GETTING WOMEN INTO THE OUTDOORS

In 2009, when the first Coastrek event was held, there was a lack of female representation in outdoor adventure and endurance events. Founder, Di Westaway OAM set out to change this and unapologetically focused on female participation. Today, everyone is welcome to take part in Coastrek – but there will always be a commitment to getting more women moving in nature and falling in love with fitness.

IT’S MORE THAN A CHARITY WALK

Registration for Coastrek events close 6 weeks out for all distances (no signing up the day before the event!). This mandatory 6 week window reflects our commitment to the training program, developed by Di Westaway and provided to every participant. This ensures, trekkers are well prepared when they hit the start line having formed healthy, active habits that will benefit them way beyond the Finish Line.

IT'S FUN FITNESS

Coastrek is NOT a race, it’s a challenge! We celebrate the journey – fast, slow or juuust right, choose your pace and enjoy the adventure. Yes, there’s some challenging sand and trails, but trekkers are encouraged to dress up (think tutus, themed outfits and glitter) and greeted with music, cheering, support from volunteers along the route, regular ‘LUV stops’ for a quick massage and refuel, and a spectacular 'Woohoo Tent’ at the Finish Line for celebrations.

IT'S IN NATURE

All Coastrek routes are carefully selected for an unforgettable experience in the outdoors - natural landscapes are in, and busy roads are out! And, as the name suggests, we are coastal! Plenty of fresh ocean air coupled with green bushland and landscapes, a touch of sand to keep things interesting and views, views, views…

A WILD HISTORY

2009 The First Sydney Coastrek

Starting as the brainchild of Di Westaway OAM, the first Coastrek was a pilot event with 40 wild women carrying photocopied maps, veggie wraps, chocolate chip cookies and Paw Paw cream. They trekked 126 km from the sunrise at La Perouse continuing through the night to finish at Palm Beach mid afternoon, 32 hours later.

2012 Coastrek raises first $1million

Now in its fourth year, Coastrek formalised the partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation and high profile Ambassadors, media personalities Julie McCrossin and Adam Spencer helped spread the word. Participation grew to 1,300 Coastrekkers - including Olympic Swimmer Susie O’Neill – who walked 50km or 100km from Palm Beach to Balmoral or Coogee, together raising over $1 million to restore sight.

2015 Coastrek heads to the Mornington Peninsula

With the Sydney event now firmly entrenched on the harbour city’s calendar, Coastrek heads interstate. Melbourne comedian and radio presenter, Libbi Gorr, comes on board as Coastrek Ambassador and over 1,600 trekkers hike 30km or 60km from Cape Schanck to Point Nepean.

2017 $20 million raised and Coastrek heads to the Sunshine Coast

Swimmer Libby Trickett begins what will become a long-time association with Coastrek, and with Di Westaway, announces the inaugural Sunshine Coast event which sees over 1,500 trekkers hiking from Caloundra to Noosa. Coastrek celebrates their 25,000 trekker milestone and an impressive $20 million raised for charity to date.

2018 Coastrek joins forces with Beyond Blue

After a successful 9 year partnership with Fred Hollows comes to a close, Coastrek joins forces with Beyond Blue to promote the mental health benefits of walking in nature. Former Prime Minister and Beyond Blue Chair, Julia Gillard, launches the first event under the new partnership which sees over 1,300 trekkers take part on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide.

2021 Coastrek forges through the pandemic

After a challenging year of postponed events and lockdowns, Coastrek events go ahead in Sydney, the Mornington Peninsula, the Sunshine Coast and Fleurieu Peninsula, raising $5.5millon for Beyond Blue for the year – an epic effort as Australia emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

2022 Coastrek heads west

The inaugural Coastrek Margaret River takes place in October and is wholeheartedly embraced by the local community and across WA. Over 1,300 participants trek 35km of the iconic Cape to Cape Track raising over $1 million for Beyond Blue.

2023 Hiking for Healthy Hearts

Coastrek announces a new charity partnership with the Heart Foundation, hiking for healthy hearts and promoting the physical and mental health benefits of walking in nature. Now five events strong, the national Coastrek series can proudly claim its position as Australia’s most iconic hiking challenge.

2024 Coastrek celebrates over $7 million in fundraising for the Heart Foundation

A successful two-year partnership with the Heart Foundation comes to a close, seeing over $7 million raised for life-saving heart research and programs, and greater awareness about heart health and the benefits of regular exercise amongst trekkers.

2025 Coastrek reunites with Beyond Blue

With both organisations recognising the benefits that physical fitness, social connections and being in nature have on mental health and Beyond Blue’s new strategy focusing on prevention and earlier intervention, a renewed partnership is formed with a shared vision to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health.

OUR ORIGINS

Coastrek was created by Wild Women On Top, one of Australia’s largest and longest running women’s health movements. Our mission is to connect, coach and champion women in the outdoors through community hiking adventures around Australia. For more information about the Research and Statistics that support the benefits of Coastrek, please visit our Research page.

To find out more about Wild Women On Top head to the website here