This document is prepared by Simon Murray and Anzhela Malysheva to address the interests of the stakeholders and entities involved in a consultative capacity. The document states the general consensus of intentions taking in consideration elements such as access, alpine environment, user interests and abilities while addressing land management and commercial imperatives. The motivation for all entities is to create an ongoing and sustainable climbing event and promote pathways for climbing beginners and enthusiasts towards obtaining professional tuition and education.

Exposé: Tubbalunganer

This yearly climbing event is built around three simple but powerful pillars: community, safety, and stewardship. Together, they shape not just a gathering for climbers, but a sustainable, inclusive, and exciting tradition that can grow in relevance for the Australian adventurous community.

Dates: 20th – 23rd March 2026
Location: Mt Buffalo National Park

Stakeholders: Parks Victoria, Climbing community 

Sponsors: Arcteryx, Elderid, DMM,

Producers:

• Anzhela Malysheva – Technical Director
• Simon Murray – Staging / Logistics & Communications

Community

At its core, this event is about people. It’s a space where climbers from all backgrounds and ability levels can come together, connect, and share their passion. From excited newbs who can’t wait to give climbing a try, to seasoned trad dads looking to pass on their craft, there’s a place for everyone. A mix of clinics, workshops, and social sessions creates natural opportunities for learning, mentorship, and friendship. By encouraging mentorship and creating a supportive atmosphere, we’re helping more people find their place in the climbing community.

Safety

Climbing is about adventure, but it’s also about looking after each other. That’s why safety runs through every part of this event. All activities are delivered by qualified guides and instructors, giving participants the chance to learn new skills in a structured, hands-on way. A clear safety framework, solid risk assessment and contingency planning mean that people can step into the unknown with confidence. For beginners, it’s a safe entry point into climbing. For experienced climbers, it’s a chance to push their skills while knowing the right systems are in place.

Stewardship

Climbers know how precious our wild places are, and this event underlines the shared responsibility of stewardship. The beauty and fragility of the alpine environment is not lost on us. Practical and educational initiatives like volunteer site care, and partnerships with land managers (Parks Victoria) make sure the event actively gives back to the places we rely on. It’s about more than just minimising impact: we aim to foster a culture of respect and responsibility that participants carry into all their future adventures.

Our goal is to celebrate the sport while protecting the environment, strengthening community ties, and creating real opportunities for connection. We hope to provide a platform for guides and commercial partners to share their expertise, for land managers to engage with user groups and to offer our sponsors a highly visible and authentic connection to the Australian outdoor community. 

With the right support and collaboration, this gathering can become a highlight of the climbing calendar and a model for how adventure sports and stewardship can go hand in hand.

Access Considerations

Tubbalunganer is a wild and special place, and we know that increased numbers can create challenges. We’re excited to be working with land managers (Parks Victoria) to make sure the event fits within existing access agreements, avoids sensitive sites, and spreads people across different crags to prevent crowding. The morning meet-and-greet at Lake Catani makes this easy — it’s where groups can form, mentors can take folks to appropriate areas, and we can help steer traffic so no one spot gets hammered. The goal is to create an event that celebrates climbing without putting pressure on the places we love.

To strengthen this, we are aiming to bring in ecology education and climate awareness as part of the program. Alongside practical Leave No Trace workshops, participants will have the chance to hear from local ecologists about the alpine environment and the unique challenges it faces. A highlight will be a guest talk on how climate change is affecting Australia’s alpine area: thinking shorter snow seasons and shifting ecosystems. By connecting access directly with stewardship and education, the event not only manages impact but also empowers climbers to become stronger advocates for the places they climb.

Just as importantly, the event helps prepare people for the seriousness of climbing at Mount Buffalo; by providing pathways to professional tuition and mentoring, it reduces the likelihood of avoidable accidents and lessens the strain on rescue services. In short, the event supports Parks Victoria’s mission by fostering a climbing community that is safer, more responsible, and better equipped to enjoy the park sustainably.

Community Interest

For participants, there are clear pathways from casual interest to accredited training, building real skills that last beyond the weekend. This event is for the whole spectrum of frothers. If you’re a total beginner looking for your first taste of climbing, you’ll find friendly mentors and structured workshops. If you’re already sending hard trad or alpine routes, you’ll find partners and peers to get after it with. The daily meet-ups are designed to bridge gaps and connect new climbers with experienced ones, building mentorship chains, and creating a culture where everyone has a place. By mixing workshops, open climbing, and social hangs, the event offers something for every level of stoke.

Commercial and Educational Imperatives

The event also opens up big opportunities. Local operators can showcase their offerings, run clinics, and reach new audiences. Instead of being a one-off weekend, the event acts as a funnel, turning casual interest into ongoing relationships with local guides. For guiding businesses, it’s about building the client bases, and showing that professional instruction is a safe and rewarding way to progress in climbing.

Our sponsors get direct access to a community that’s passionate, loyal, and hungry for gear that works in the mountains. Backing this event means more than putting a logo on a banner: it’s about being part of a story that opens the door into the granite world of unspeakable adventures. Sponsors get to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the outdoor community, showing real support for the values climbers care about: safety, sustainability, and stewardship. By supporting the event, sponsors will:

• Connect with a highly engaged audience of climbers, outdoor frothers, and adventure-seekers who are loyal to the brands that back their lifestyle.

• Be seen as leaders in sustainability by helping fund education sessions and stewardship projects

• Showcase products in context, with gear demos and real-time use at the Gorge gathering, where climbers can try, touch, (lick?) and talk about equipment directly with reps.

• Align with inclusivity and community, since the event is designed to be accessible for beginners and experienced climbers alike, creating pathways into the sport and breaking down barriers.

• Gain long-term visibility, as the event builds into a yearly tradition with growing momentum, media coverage, and social reach.

3.
THE DARK ARTS:
Crack Climbing at Buffalo 

Welcome to The Dark Arts - a workshop series dedicated to the noble and often painful pursuit of upward motion using nothing but jams, locks, and a questionable amount of tape. If you’ve ever looked at the sweeping granite walls of Mt Buffalo and thought, "No thanks, that looks awful," you’re not alone. But trust us - cracks aren’t just for suffering; they’re a gateway to pure climbing wizardry. 

Over two jam-packed (literally) days, we’ll take you from crack-avoider to crack- conqueror.

CRACKSHOP. Tired of avoiding cracks like you owe them money? We are here to help you face your fears and stick your hands, feet, and maybe even whole body into those intimidating fissures. Learn the art of jamming without the pain (okay, maybe a little pain), master finger locks, and discover the joy of crack footwork that doesn’t feel like a medieval torture device. Join us for some laughs, learning, and plenty of tape, and you can finally embrace the cracks! 

GEARSHOP. This is your crash course in becoming a keen cam plugger and nut-shaker. Whether you're dreaming of a speed ascent of Ozymandias or eyeing the intimidating Angel’s buttress, bomber gear is your ticket to adventure glory. We'll get you started on your gear placement journey and teach you to place, assess and remove gear safely, confidently, and with just the right amount of swagger to call yourself a traditionalist!

Level 1: LOWERING

On Day 1 of rescue progression series you will refresh your knowledge on establishing belays in a multi pitch environment, lower a stuck or injured second to the ground or the nearest ledge with different devices and refine techniques to help yourself up after falling in space on a roof or traverse pitch.

Level 2: RAISING

This is Day 2 of your roping progression. Building on the skills from day 1, you will learn how to rig a hauling system with mechanical advantage (3:1 and 6:1) using your personal equipment and perform a raising rescue for a stuck or struggling second with different belay devices. You will have an opportunity to practice hauling on hanging belays and learn how to protect your second on traverses using double ropes

Level 3: COMMITTING

This is Day 3 of the RAWQ progression series. Building on the skills from day 1 and 2 , you will learn how to set up a retrievable abseil line, make sure you can pull the rope from the bottom and deal how to deal with any trouble arising in the process. You will learn about different retrievable abseil configurations and what to do if your rope stuck. You will learn how to safely and efficiently ascend single and double ropes. We will discuss applicability of fixing ropes and how to do it safely. Throughout the day you will practice these skills on the wall, in a multi pitch environment in order to progressively gain confidence and help you feel prepared for unplanned situations

5.
INTO THE VOID: Intro to Aid

Step right up, brave souls, and welcome to your crash course in the strange and wonderful world of aid climbing. This is the shadowy side of upward progress, where style points don’t matter, your harness creaks in protest, and the word “free” has nothing to do with movement. If you’ve ever gazed up across the blank walls of the gorge and thought, “How the hell do people get up that?” — aid climbing is the sweet answer. Over the course of this workshop, you’ll learn to embrace the mechanical magic of ladders, hooks, and gear that looks suspiciously like it came from a 70s hardware store. We’ll teach you how to juggle ascenders without tying yourself in knots, clip into gear without crying (maybe little crying), and slowly but surely make your way upward when the free moves run out. Along the way, you’ll discover that aid isn’t just about suffering — it’s about unlocking the big lines, the big dreams, and a whole new level of gnar.nBy the end, you’ll know how to get high (literally), with just enough knowledge to eye those proud Buffalo walls and whisper: “Yeah… I could totally aid that.”

6.
BIG WALLING:
Life over the edge 

Ever through what would happen if you just keep climbing until you run out of daylight, food, and sanity? Welcome to Big Walling — the workshop for climbers who want to trade quick sends for full-blown vertical expeditions. In this session, we’ll pull back the curtain on the mysterious world of portaledges, hauling systems, and the fine art of surviving days suspended. You’ll learn how to move efficiently, keep your systems slick, and manage the mental game of life on the wall. Expect beta on hauling bags that weigh more than you, organising anchors so they don’t look like spaghetti, and embracing the slow grind of progress when “fast and light” isn’t on the menu. Big wall climbing isn’t just about strength — it’s about patience, problem-solving, and embracing the absurdity of pooping 200 metres off the deck.

For commercial operators we invite submissions for more offerings to add to this program. If you are a commercial operator, with all the required permits & insurance we encourage you to get in touch and collaborate. Let us know what you want to bring to the party!!:

7. Stewardship & Ecology Program

• Leave No Trace in Action: Practical sessions on how to minimise impact at crags, trails, and campsites. Not just theory — hands-on examples and tips you can apply anywhere you climb.

• Volunteer Site Care: Give back to Buffalo with community clean-ups and light track maintenance. A simple, fun way to keep the park healthy while hanging out with fellow frothers.

• Alpine Ecology Sessions: Learn about the plants, animals, and unique ecosystems of Australia’s alpine areas from local experts. Connect the climbing experience with the bigger picture of conservation.

• Climate Change Guest Talk: A speaker-led session on how climate change is reshaping Australia’s alpine environments — from shrinking snow seasons to fragile habitats under pressure. A powerful reminder of why stewardship matters, and how climbers can be part of the solution.

Call to Action

At the heart of this event is the climbing community : the most important stakeholder in shaping how we come together, care for the environment, and pass knowledge to the next generation. This gathering is designed to strengthen community bonds, create new mentorship pathways, and ensure climbers of all backgrounds have a safe, inclusive, and inspiring space at Mount Buffalo.

But to make this vision real, we’re inviting everyone with a stake in Buffalo to join us: climbers, land managers, sponsors and local operators. Each has a unique role to play. With the community driving the spirit and culture of the event, Parks Victoria’s endorsement ensures alignment with conservation priorities and safety standards. Sponsors’ backing brings resources, gear demos, and the financial foundation to grow the event year after year. Guiding companies provide the expertise that transforms participants from curious beginners into skilled and confident experts.

Together, these groups create create a sustainable tradition that balances recreation with stewardship. The shared motivation is clear: to build an event that celebrates climbing while reducing pressure on rescue services, enhancing stewardship of fragile alpine areas, boosting local guiding opportunities, and giving climbers the tools and confidence they need to thrive in the outdoors.

We’re calling on you to join us in building this legacy: an annual climbing event that inspires, educates, and sustains both people and place. With collective support, this gathering won’t just succeed for one weekend, it will become a cornerstone of Australian climbing culture and a model for how adventure and stewardship can go hand in hand.