The 1976 event followed the now familiar four day format with a Sydney start and a Port Macquarie base, however for the first time the event started on a Saturday and finished on a Wednesday, although there was an assembly stage on the Thursday to a ceremonial finish at Hyde Park in Sydney. Each afternoon comprised a number of daylight special stages followed by long nights of mostly very long special stages. The distances and number of stages was as follows:
| Special Stages | Special Stage | Touring | Total | Competitive | Longest Stage | |
| Day One | 12 | 434.34 km | 415.75 km | 850.09 km | 51.1% | 110.17 km |
| Day Two | 14 | 562.81 km | 390.62 km | 953.43 km | 59.0% | 149.61 km |
| Day Three | 8 | 537.80 km | 202.50 km | 740.30 km | 72.6% | 124.57 km |
| Day Four | 14 | 597.55 km | 193.04 km | 790.59 km | 75.6% | 215.49 km |
| Event | 48 | 2132.50 km | 1201.91 km | 3334.41 km | 64.0% | 215.49 km |
Further details are provided below for each day.
Day One
Click the map to go to a Google Maps trace of the route. |
The event began on Saturday afternoon with a short special stage at the old Amaroo Raceway, utilising the dirt circuit, hillclimb and some linking tracks. After a long touring up to Morriset, 3 somewhat rough stages through the Awaba Forest took crews to Mount Sugarloaf west of Newcastle. After a refuel, one more short daylight stage in the Wallaroo Forest preceded the mealbreak at Stroud.
Darkness saw the competition begin in earnest with two long stages in the Craven-Myall and Wang Wauk Forests, a couple of shorter stages south of Nabiac, then another lengthy stage in the Kiwarric Forest before the Taree refuel. Two more stages took crews to Port Macquarie, including another 100+ km stage through the Kerewong Forest ending at Herons Creek. A number of stages included loops with merging traffic at passage controls and then a common route for several kilometres. |
Stage details
Click on the special stage name to see the map.
| Stage | Name | SS Distance | Touring Distance | Time Allowed | First Car |
| 1 | Amaroo Special | 2.43 km | 2 mins | 1.00 pm | |
| 2 | Tollway Touring | 142.37 km | 2 hrs 30 mins | 3.32 pm | |
| 3 | Hawkmount Special | 9.44 km | 7 mins | 3.39 pm | |
| 4 | Awaba West Touring | 0.45 km | 2 mins | 3.41 pm | |
| 5 | Fassifern West Special | 3.56 km | 3 mins | 3.44 pm | |
| 6 | Wakefield South Touring | 0.38 km | 2 mins | 3.46 pm | |
| 7 | Mount Sugarloaf Special | 12.82 km | 10 mins | 3.56 pm | |
| 8 | Newcastle Touring & Refuel | 64.39 km | 1 hr 10 mins | 5.06 pm | |
| 9 | Wallaroo Special | 5.13 km | 4 mins | 5.10 pm | |
| 10 | Booral Touring & Refuel/Mealbreak | 34.15 km | 30 mins | 5.40 pm 30 mins hold |
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| 11 | Wards River Touring | 31.75 km | 28 mins | 6.38 pm | |
| 12 | Craven Myall Special | 110.17 km | 1 hr 30 mins | 8.08 pm | |
| 13 | Bulahdelah Touring & Service | 17.57 km | 25 mins | 8.33 pm | |
| 14 | Wang Wauk Special | 68.25 km | 55 mins | 9.28 pm | |
| 15 | Wootoon Touring | 7.99 km | 8 mins | 9.36 pm | |
| 16 | Ferny Creek Special | 17.61 km | 13 mins | 9.49 pm | |
| 17 | Coolongolook Touring & Service | 13.85 km | 15 mins | 10.04 pm | |
| 18 | Wollomba Special | 15.86 km | 13 mins | 10.17 pm | |
| 19 | Nabiac Touring | 21.02 km | 17 mins | 10.34 pm | |
| 20 | Kiwarric Special | 49.16 km | 39 mins | 11.13 pm | |
| 21 | Coopernook Touring & Refuel | 31.59 km | 40 mins | 11.53 pm | |
| 22 | Lansdowne Forest Special | 37.79 km | 30 mins | 12.23 am | |
| 23 | Lorne Touring | 17.57 km | 15 mins | 12.38 am | |
| 24 | Kerewong Special | 102.12 km | 1 hr 20 mins | 1.58 am | 25 | Herons Creek Touring & Service | 32.72 km | 1 hr | 2.58 pm |
Route instructions are available below:
Day Two
Click the map to go to a Google Maps trace of the route. |
The second day and night were the longest in terms of distance and time, taking the event north into the Coffs Harbour WRC territory. Three daylight specials took crews north to a refuel at Kempsey with another two daylight specials south of Macksville before a mealbreak at the Utungun Hall. Then came the first of two forays through the infamous Horsehoe Forest Road area before tackling the equally famous Gordonville Ford and a tricky special across to the highway south of Coffs. After a refuel there were two stages in the Bucca and Wedding Bells Forests, now famous in the WRC, followed by three stages across to Dorrigo, some using part of the Shipmans WRC stage. After a refuel at Bellingen a short stage took crews south to Missabotti before the second foray into the Horseshoe Forest Road area ending at Upper Taylors Arm before a lengthy touring stage back to Port Macquarie. |
Stage details
Click on the special stage name to see the map.
| Stage | Name | SS Distance | Touring Distance | Time Allowed | First Car |
| 1 | Forest Hut Touring & Refuel | 22.32 km | 30 mins | 2.30 pm | |
| 2 | Loggy Creek Special | 16.10 km | 12 mins | 2.42 pm | |
| 3 | Glen Esk Touring | 20.27 km | 17 mins | 2.59 pm | |
| 4 | Molly Milligan Special | 38.50 km | 30 mins | 3.29 pm | |
| 5 | Kunderbung Touring | 13.98 km | 12 mins | 3.41 pm | |
| 6 | Kalateenee Special | 15.11 km | 12 mins | 3.53 pm | |
| 7 | Bellimbopinni Touring & Refuel | 56.82 km | 55 mins | 4.48 pm | |
| 8 | Yarrahapinni Special | 22.80 km | 20 mins | 5.08 pm | |
| 9 | Browns Crossing Touring | 2.30 km | 5 mins | 5.13 pm | |
| 10 | Ingalba Special | 13.39 km | 10 mins | 5.23 pm | |
| 11 | Maras Creek Touring & Mealbreak | 4.53 km | 6 mins | 5.29 pm 30 mins hold |
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| 12 | Taylors Arm Touring | 19.36 km | 20 mins | 6.19 pm | |
| 13 | Horseshoe Special | 149.61 km | 2 hours | 8.19 pm | |
| 14 | Gordonville Ford Touring | 12.13 km | 10 mins | 8.29 pm | |
| 15 | Pine Creek Special | 23.95 km | 20 mins | 8.49 pm | |
| 16 | Coffs Harbour Touring & Refuel | 29.01 km | 35 mins | 9.24 pm | |
| 17 | Mt Coramba Special | 30.77 km | 25 mins | 9.49 pm | |
| 18 | Lower Bucca Touring | 4.67 km | 5 mins | 9.54 pm | |
| 19 | Wedding Bells Special | 51.82 km | 40 mins | 10.34 pm | |
| 20 | Nana Glen Touring & Service | 15.72 km | 20 mins | 10.54 pm | |
| 21 | Coldwater Creek Special | 8.78 km | 7 mins | 11.01 pm | |
| 22 | Bushmans Range North Touring | 0.99 km | 2 mins | 11.03 pm | |
| 23 | Timber Top Special | 34.19 km | 26 mins | 11.29 pm | |
| 24 | Bushmans Range South Touring | 0.99 km | 2 mins | 11.31 pm | |
| 25 | Brooklana Special | 62.38 km | 50 mins | 12.21 am | |
| 26 | Thora Touring & Refuel | 34.13 km | 35 mins | 12.56 am | |
| 27 | Gladstone Peak Special | 16.75 km | 13 mins | 1.09 am | |
| 28 | Missabotti Touring | 33.57 km | 30 mins | 1.39 am | |
| 29 | Thumb Creek Special | 78.66 km | 1 hr 10 mins | 2.49 am | |
| 30 | Willawarrin Touring & Service | 119.83 km | 2 hrs 15 mins | 5.04 am |
Route instructions are available below:
Day Three
Click the map to go to a Google Maps trace of the route. |
The third leg was also to the north but more compact. After the first two short daylight specials crews tackled the massive 77 km daylight special deep into the Kippara Forest leading to a refuel and mealbreak at Kempsey. The night began with a long meander through the Tan Ban Forest then north to another lengthy stage through Newry Forest (also WRC territory). After a refuel at Bellingen a third and final massive stage through the Horseshoe Forest Road area included the scary descent of Jacobs Ladder. A further stage ventured deep into the Nulla FIve Day Forest before ending the night with another long stage through Kippara Forest using some of the previous afternoon's stage in reverse. |
Stage details
Click on the special stage name to see the map.
| Stage | Name | SS Distance | Touring Distance | Time Allowed | First Car |
| 1 | Hibbard Touring & Refuel | 22.58 km | 30 mins | 3.30 pm | |
| 2 | Waterfall Special | 23.89 km | 18 mins | 3.48 pm | |
| 3 | Rolland Plains Touring | 17.47 km | 15 mins | 4.03 pm | |
| 4 | Snowy Special | 9.24 km | 7 mins | 4.10 pm | |
| 5 | Hastings Forest Touring | 3.10 km | 5 mins | 4.15 pm | |
| 6 | Tuckybunyubah Special | 77.17 km | 1 hr 5 mins | 5.20 pm | |
| 7 | Burnt Bridge Touring & Mealbreak | 14.98 km | 15 mins | 5.35 pm 30 mins hold |
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| 8 | Frederickton Touring | 17.52 km | 20 mins | 6.25 pm | |
| 9 | Tan Ban Special | 85.49 km | 1 hr 10 mins | 7.35 pm | |
| 10 | Bowraville Touring & Coffee Stop | 28.45 km | 30 mins | 8.05 pm | |
| 11 | Newry Special | 53.10 km | 43 mins | 8.48 pm | |
| 12 | Bellingen Touring & Refuel | 19.13 km | 27 mins | 9.15 pm | |
| 13 | Jacobs Ladder Special | 124.57 km | 1 hr 40 mins | 10.55 pm | |
| 14 | Medlow Touring | 5.79 km | 10 mins | 11.05 pm | |
| 15 | Nulla Five Day Special | 50.50 km | 40 mins | 11.45 pm | |
| 16 | Bellbrook Touring & Service | 28.52 km | 35 mins | 12.20 am | |
| 17 | Kippara Special | 113.84 km | 1 hr 30 mins | 1.50 am | |
| 18 | Beechwood Touring | 44.96 km | 1 hour | 2.50 am |
Route instructions are available below:
Day Four
Click the map to go to a Google Maps trace of the route. |
The fourth and final leg of the event initially headed south with four daylight stages taking crews to a refuel and mealbreak in Taree. The night began with the short Black Flat Lane stage with its famous humped grid, then a series of long mountain stages through Dingo Tops north to the Oxley Highway. After a remote service crews tackled the longest stage of the event, 215 km meandering generally eastwards, with a mid-stage service option before finishing back through the Kippara Forest that was used on the third day. After a refuel at Kempsey a stage south through Kalateenee and Ballengarra Forests used some road from the second day's daylight stages. The final three stages used the forests near to Port Macquarie including the infamous Rollover Road along the ridgeline of Bago Bluff. |
Stage details
Click on the special stage name to see the map.
| Stage | Name | SS Distance | Touring Distance | Time Allowed | First Car |
| 1 | Racecourse Touring & Refuel | 14.41 km | 25 mins | 3.25 pm | |
| 2 | Burrawan Special | 18.90 km | 14 mins | 3.39 pm | |
| 3 | Kew Touring | 18.90 km | 17 mins | 3.56 pm | |
| 4 | Middle Brother Special | 26.75 km | 20 mins | 4.16 pm | |
| 5 | Stewarts River Touring | 6.54 km | 7 mins | 4.23 pm | |
| 6 | Vincents Lookout Special | 19.88 km | 15 mins | 4.38 pm | |
| 7 | Landsdowne Touring | 18.40 km | 17 mins | 4.55 pm | |
| 8 | Yarrat Special | 11.47 km | 9 mins | 5.04 pm | |
| 9 | Taree Touring, Refuel & Mealbreak | 10.86 km | 25 mins | 5.29 pm 30 mins hold |
|
| 10 | Wingham Touring | 24.35 km | 25 mins | 6.24 pm | |
| 11 | Charity Creek Special | 10.58 km | 8 mins | 6.32 pm | |
| 12 | Mt George West Touring & Service | 1.25 km | 10 mins | 6.42 pm | |
| 13 | Knodingbul Special | 49.21 km | 37 mins | 7.19 pm | |
| 14 | Head and Shoulder South Touring | 0.28 km | 2 mins | 7.21 pm | |
| 15 | Dingo Tops Special | 28.36 km | 22 mins | 7.43 pm | |
| 16 | Head and Shoulder North Touring | 0.24 km | 2 mins | 7.45 pm | |
| 17 | Doyles River Special | 91.88 km | 1 hr 15 mins | 9.00 pm | |
| 18 | Mount Seaview Touring | 3.88 km | 5 mins | 9.05 pm | |
| 19 | Cells River Special | 14.81 km | 11 mins | 9.16 pm | |
| 20 | Myrtle Scrub Touring & Service | 13.66 km | 23 mins | 9.39 pm | |
| 21 | Mount Boss Special | 215.49 km | 3 hours | 12.39 am | |
| 22 | Sherwood Touring & Refuel | 23.53 km | 30 mins | 1.09 am | |
| 23 | Ballengarra Special | 47.32 km | 40 mins | 1.49 am | |
| 24 | Reids Road Touring | 15.27 km | 15 mins | 2.04 am | |
| 25 | Cairncross Special | 18.71 km | 14 mins | 2.18 am | |
| 26 | Pembroke Touring & Refuel | 22.22 km | 25 mins | 2.43 am | |
| 27 | Roll-Over Special | 25.32 km | 20 mins | 3.03 am | |
| 28 | Bago Road Touring | 4.38 km | 5 mins | 3.08 am | |
| 29 | Cowarra Special | 18.76 km | 14 mins | 3.22 am | |
| 30 | Port Macquarie Touring | 14.87 km | 30 mins | 3.52 am |
Route instructions are available below:
