What is Anytime Orienteering?
Anytime orienteering provides free maps of urban and bushland areas in WA that allow you to enjoy an orienteering course and try out your map-reading and navigation skills at a time that is convenient to you. There are several main types of maps:
Bush maps - These are typical orienteering maps of bushland or park areas that have permanent markers at defined features (control points). For most areas there are multiple suggested courses suitable for both newcomers and experienced orienteers.
Photo map - These show an urban area with control points marked by a circle on the map. The map sheet also has photos of the features at the control sites. The orienteer must select the photo that matches each control site.
Mobile phone linked maps - These are orienteering maps that can be accessed in hard copy or on your phone. They use MapRunF, an Australian-developed phone app (available in iOS and Android), that is free to use. MapRunF uses your smartphone for timing and to check that you have visited all the controls. The control points are located by GPS coordinates stored in the app – there are no markers on the ground. Your smartphone identifies when you have reached your control point with a loud beep, and the MapRunF app screen will show your time and progress.
Quick Guide to MapRunF
Quiz maps - These are orienteering maps of areas where, for some reason, it has not been possible/desirable to put up permanent markers. At each control site the orienteer must answer a question about what is there.
The following instructions will help you get underway.
How do I get the map?
A list of current map locations is available and we’re adding new locations all the time. The list has links to the corresponding maps that can be downloaded, or information on where to collect maps (e.g. information booths).
For each bush location there is usually a number of maps available with different courses, e.g. short, medium, long, together with a master map showing all control sites. The master map allows the orienteer to make their own course by choosing which controls to visit. For the photo maps and quiz maps there is only an ‘all controls’ option. For the mobile phone linked maps there is either a set ‘line course’ or an ‘all controls’ option.
After selecting a location you can download the maps and print the course(s) you want to try. Downloads are free but we require that you register before downloading the map. This allows us to understand patterns of use of our Anytime Orienteering courses and will help us provide more options in the future.
We recommend that you print the map in colour to enable you to use the map legend easily to identify features on the map and make your orienteering more enjoyable.
You can also download the following instructions and guides in PDF format to print and these will help you get underway.
Anytime Orienteering - Getting Started Guide (PDF)
Anytime Orienteering - Orienteering Tips (PDF)
Guidelines for the Protection of People and the Environment (PDF)
Currently Available Anytime Orienteering Areas:
Gnarojin Park, Narrogin, (MapRunF)
Albany WA, Town Centre, Photo O
Fremantle City Centre, Photo O
Stadium Park at Optus Stadium, Photo O
Acknowledgement of country