DIVERGE Skyruns

A brand-new sky and trail running festival will debut on Tasmania’s West Coast in May 2026; yet again putting the region and its epic adventure tourism firmly on the global bucket list. It’s been revealed that the 3-day DIVERGE Skyruns festival will be held over the weekend of 1-3 May 2026, with around 500 runners and hikers expected to take part in the inaugural year. 

DIVERGE Skyruns will be based in Queenstown and see runners traverse the ridgelines of Mt Owen and Mt Lyell, as well as the surrounding trails and even the Queenstown Airfield. Trail Ventures, which also puts on the successful Kunanyi Mountain Run in Hobart, will deliver the event, which is presented by the global outdoor brand Arc’teryx. Trail Ventures Director Lincoln Quilliam said excitement has rippled through the Australian skyrunning and trail running communities since its initial launch in early August.

“The West Coast mountains and trails are absolutely epic, although some need to be re-made, to produce a world class skyrunning/trail running experience,” Mr Quilliam said. 

“We’re really stoked to be partnering with the West Coast community and the council, and to have the support of the Tasmanian Government, to make DIVERGE Skyruns a reality. 

“It simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Tasmanian Government”.

Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said the Government is investing in events like DIVERGE, to boost visitation around the state, including in regional and remote areas like the West Coast, and to encourage interstate travel into the regions across the shoulder seasons. 

“Visitors come to experience all that Tasmania has to offer, and events like DIVERGE Skyruns help showcase special regions like the West Coast to a new array of travellers,” she said. 

Queenstown-born ultra runner Alice McGushin, who now lives in Canberra, is excited to have a world-class event like DIVERGE come to her hometown. 

“It’s so nice that other people from around Australia, from around the world, will see what it’s like,” Dr McGushin said. 

“We already have people from Hong Kong and Europe planning to run the inaugural event,” Mr Quilliam said. But he expects, and hopes, West Coasters will also embrace the event. 

“We’ll have shorter trail runs and hikes which will be perfect for those who might be newer to running, or to trail running, or those who make the Zeehan parkrun a regular part of their week”. 

“The West Coast community is central to this event,” Mr Quilliam said. 

Mr Quilliam hopes the event will also help foster a stronger running community, with DIVERGE partnering with the Mountain Heights School and offering trail running sessions for students, as well as working with the local park run. 

There is also significant trail work that will be required to enable the event to go ahead. 

“We also have plans to reclaim from the bush, a long-forgotten mining railway, because we’re keen for it to be a key feature of DIVERGE’s skyrunning courses. But it will also become an absolutely epic tourism walk and run, well beyond our event,” he said.

The Lyell–Comstock railway was built more than 120 years ago during the region’s mining boom, but it never used. 

“It took 3 very big days, but we have now groundtruthed it and the formation is definitely still there.

“The rock cuttings, the walls and the views are absolutely breath taking, and world-class. They’re more impressive than most rail trails out there,” Mr Quilliam said.

Trail Ventures is currently fundraising funds to employ local people for 3 to 4 months of track work to get ready for the event, starting in October.