Newcastle NOY8 - Neath (North Ne...

Newcastle NOY8 - Neath (North Ne...
Event Date: 2026-08-23
At:
Club: Newcastle Orienteering Club
NEWCASTLE ORIENTEER OF THE YEAR # 8 - NEATH

The eighth event in the 2026 NOY series with courses for all abilities. Newcomers welcome!

DATE: Sunday 23 August 2026

STARTS: 9:30am to 11:30am. COURSE CLOSURE: 1:00pm - You must report back to the Finish by this time.

DIRECTIONS: FROM KURRI KURRI / ABERMAIN travel west toward Cessnock to Neath. 650m past the Ampol Service Station on the north side of the road turn right turn into the gravel track (Caledonia St) at the western end of the large vacant block with scattered trees (187-191 Cessnock Rd). There are no turning lanes, so indicate early.
FROM CESSNOCK. Travel east toward Kurri Kurri. 200m after the start of the houses in Neath turn left into the gravel track (Caledonia St) at the western end of the large vacant block with scattered trees.

PARKING: Park in the vacant land with scattered trees on the northern side of Cessnock Rd (weather permitting). Park efficiently to optimise space. Alternate parking could be on tree covered vacant land on the southern side of Cessnock Rd. If the areas are too wet/soft then use parking zones on both sides of Cessnock Rd (leave driveways clear).

ASSEMBLY/START/FINISH: The ASSEMBLY area is in the northern part of vacant land. The START is 200m northwest of the assembly area. Follow sign along a well-defined track. The FINISH is near the Assembly. Proceed to the Download after finishing.

MAP: “North Neath”. Scale 1:10 000. 5m contours. Drawn by Denis Lyons. Updated 2026.
Spur-gully terrain ranging from almost flat to steep with a mix of open forest, open/semi-open areas and thicker regrowth. Some of the natural watercourse patterns have been altered by past mining activity using earth banks, drainage trenches and concrete drains. There are numerous tracks.

NOTES:
- Most of the area was burnt three years ago. Much of the spikey growth has died, with branches on the ground and knee-high regrowth. Large areas like this have been mapped as green stripe (Undergrowth: slow) because they look fast but what is on the ground will slow your progress.
- There are areas of thicker Ti-tree and spikey growth. Full body cover is recommended.
- Firewood gatherers have been active. Main entry points to felled trees are shown as indistinct rides.
- The symbol for wall (black line with dot in the middle) has been used to indicate a line of rocks placed across a track to block vehicle access. In some places some rocks have been pushed out of line.
- Some old fences still exist, with barbed wire in position. Sections which are along route choice options will be tagged with red/white tapes.
- All streamer trails will be shown on ALL maps.
- In the northern area of the map people appear to be living in a shack. The position of this shack is shown on the map. Only HARD 1 and HARD 2 courses go anywhere near this area and there are strong track options to stay well clear.

SPECIAL MAP SYMBOLS: Green cross = prominent tree root mound; Brown triangle = termite mound; Black cross = wreckage; Black circle = man-made feature

SAFETY:
- Safety Bearing: West to the main forest road (along highest ground), follow road South/Southwest to the water tank, then go southeast to the Assembly.
- The area is frequented by motorbikes and 4WDs. Stay out of their way.
- Bushfire or Other Emergency: If there is a need to evacuate a horn will sound an emergency signal (5 blasts at 10 second intervals, repeated every 2 minutes) and all competitors must abandon their course, return directly to the Assembly area if safe to do so, and download.

COURSES: (Course - Length / Climb / No. of Controls / Description)
VERY EASY - 1.7 km / 20 m / 10 / Follows tracks and streamer trails.
EASY - 2.1 km / 25 m / 15 / Controls near tracks but you need to know where you are before turning off.
MODERATE - 2.5 km / 25 m / 11 / Intermediate level navigation to prominent features with catching features nearby.
HARD 4 - 2.5 km / 30 m / 8 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 3 - 3.4 km / 60 m / 13 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 2 - 5.0 km / 105 m / 15 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 1 - 6.7 km / 140 m / 20 / Difficult navigation.

WATER: Please bring your own drinking water.

ENTRY FEES: https://www.newcastleorienteering.asn.au/index.php/about/13-content/1388... . Pre-entry before Sunday preferred. Enter on the Day welcome but map availability for your preferred course cannot be guaranteed.
First timers also see How To Enter As a First Timer here https://newcastleorienteering.asn.au/index.php/13-content/1411-how-to-en... .

COURSE SETTER: Denis Lyons. VETTER: Adrian Plaskitt

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Newcastle Orienteering Club acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

RESTRICTIONS and RULES: Dogs, smoking and fires are prohibited from ALL parking, assembly and competition areas.
All competitors should be familiar with ONSW Competitors Rules at https://onsw.asn.au/images/stories/admin/ONSW%20Manual%204.1%20Competito... .

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED: Help from 5 people with collecting controls following event closure will be needed and very much appreciated (including a fit person to collect controls in the “high country”).