Staying safe at the Finke Desert Race

The Tatts Finke Desert Race remains the premiere off-road race in Australia. Almost everyone knows of someone who’s raced it and many thousands of people have made the journey to Central Australia just to watch it. Held every King’s Birthday long weekend in Alice Springs, the 2024 edition of Finke will mark the 48th running of what is the greatest off-road racing spectacle in the country.

The race starts in Alice Springs with competitors racing south, roughly along the old Ghan rail line to the small community of Apatula, near the Finke River. It’s a 226km stretch which the top riders can cover in less than two hours while the more modest riders have up to four hours and thirty minutes to cover the distance. Competitors camp the night at a designated campground near Apatula before racing back in a northerly direction to Alice Springs the following day. 

Spectating along the track is great fun but it comes with plenty of hazards if you are not aware. There are some simple rules to live by that can help keep you safe.

The Finke Desert Race track is an open and public road and is only closed on the Sunday and Monday of the event weekend for the race to be held. This means, all normal road rules apply on the track at any other time. You must be licensed and riding a registered bike if you are riding on the track.

The track is rough with unpredictable terrain and as it runs through private station land, there can be cattle and wild animals including camels roaming on or near the track.

If you do ride the track at any time other than during the race, only ever head south in the AM and north in the PM. This avoids the possibility of head-on collisions. Be aware that the service road that runs parallel with the racetrack will be closed between Deep Well and Finke from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday and Monday on race weekend.

There is generally no phone reception along the track so be prepared with a UHF radio and a satellite phone or a personal locator beacon (PLB). If you require emergency medical assistance on race weekend there is medical staff at the following checkpoints along the track.

Alice Springs Start/Finish line
Deep Well – 63kms
Rodinga – 94kms
Bundooma – 136kms
Mt Squires – 169kms
Finke – 223kms

A medivac helicopter will be positioned at Bundooma and the Royal Flying Doctor Service is also on call for evacuation from Aputula (Finke) Medical Clinic. Two other helicopters will have intensive care paramedics on board.

Police will be present along the track conducting random breath testing. Stay safe. Do not drink and drive. The Finke Township (Aputula Community) is a dry community and alcohol is strictly prohibited within the township, the race camp and the Finke River area.

When spectating, always stand at least 30-meters from the track and do not stand near or on the outside of corners. Respect the land and take your rubbish with you. Make sure your campfires are extinguished when you leave. Be considerate of other campers and road users.

Finke race weekend is a remarkable experience from the side-lines and on the racetrack. Always consider any associated risks with whatever you choose to do, stay safe and have fun.