Planning to attend the Repco Bathurst 1000? This in-depth guide covers tickets, schedule, official campgrounds, best viewing spots, race-week accommodation and practical travel tips for Australia's greatest motorsport event.
The Repco Bathurst 1000: Australia's Greatest Race
The Repco Bathurst 1000 is the most prestigious and most-watched motorsport event in Australia. Held every October at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst NSW, it brings together the world's best touring car drivers for a 1000 km endurance race that has crowned legends including Peter Brock, Allan Moffat, Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen. The event attracts more than 200,000 attendees across the four-day weekend and reaches a global TV audience of over 100 million.
Off-track entertainment includes live music, the V8 Supercars driver pit walk, the Supercars Paddock, monster truck shows, fireworks and the famous Bathurst 1000 camping culture on the inside of the mountain — for most fans, the campgrounds are as much a part of race week as the racing itself.
Bathurst 1000 Dates 2026 & Track Schedule
The Bathurst 1000 dates 2026 are pencilled in for the second weekend of October — expect Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October 2026, following the same four-day pattern as recent years. Supercars Australia locks in the official bathurst 1000 track schedule, including qualifying days and the race start time, in early autumn each year, so check their website before booking flights.
The track schedule typically runs practice on Thursday and Friday, the Top Ten Shootout on Saturday afternoon, and the 1000 km race itself starting Sunday around 11:10 am, finishing roughly 6.5–7 hours later. If you're studying the bathurst 1000 track map, the 6.213 km Mount Panorama layout climbs from Pit Straight through Hell Corner and Skyline, down Conrod Straight and through The Chase before returning to the start/finish line — printed track maps are handed out at the gates and posted on the Supercars app.
Repco Bathurst 1000 Tickets: Prices, Grandstands & Hospitality
Repco Bathurst 1000 tickets go on sale the year before, and General Admission passes give access to all public spectator areas including The Chase, Murray's Corner, Reid Park, Sulman Park and grandstands at Pit Straight. 4-Day GA bathurst 1000 tickets typically range from $250–$370 and almost always sell out before race week. Reserved grandstand seats at Pit Straight, The Chase and Conrod Straight are the most popular paid options and book out months in advance.
Premium hospitality packages — including the Champions Club, Skyline Hospitality and corporate suites — include catering, drinks, dedicated parking and exclusive viewing decks. For the best free spectator views, head to McPhillamy Park (Saturday and Sunday only via shuttle), Reid Park or the natural amphitheatre across The Esses. Bring a folding chair, hat, sunscreen, ear protection and a reusable water bottle.
Camping Sites at Bathurst 1000: Sites, Map & Accommodation
Camping sites at Bathurst 1000 are booked out inside the circuit itself — official campgrounds sit on the inside of the mountain at Reid Park, Sulman Park, McPhillamy Park, Murray's Corner and The Chase, right among the fans and the noise of the cars. Bathurst 1000 camping 2025 sold out within weeks of tickets going live, and camping at Bathurst 1000 for the 2026 race is expected to move just as fast — sites are released and booked directly through the Supercars website, not through third-party accommodation sites.
Before you pack the car, grab the official bathurst 1000 camping map from Supercars — it shows every powered and unpowered site, toilet and shower blocks, first-aid points and the shuttle bus stops linking the campgrounds to the CBD and circuit gates. If a tent under canvas isn't for you, bathurst 1000 accommodation camping alternatives such as powered sites, camper trailers and cabins at Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park and BIG4 Bathurst Park sit a short walk from the track and include hot showers and power.
Bathurst 1000 Accommodation: Where to Stay
Bathurst 1000 accommodation books out 6–12 months in advance and pricing rises 3–5x compared to normal rates. Finding accommodation in Bathurst for the Bathurst 1000 gets harder every year — most properties enforce minimum 3–5 night stays, full pre-payment and strict cancellation policies. The closest options are Rydges Mount Panorama, Panorama City Motor Lodge, Bathurst Explorers Motel and Best Western Bathurst Motor Inn, all within 5 minutes of the circuit gates.
Self-contained Airbnb houses, holiday rentals and farm stays across West Bathurst, Kelso, Perthville, Eglinton, Sofala and Trunkey Creek absorb most of the demand. For Bathurst 1000 accommodation 2025/2026, start comparing rates as soon as the prior year's race finishes — the best-located houses are often rebooked by the same groups year after year. Looking for Bathurst 12 Hour accommodation instead? The same properties apply, but in February you'll find normal pricing and far more availability. If Bathurst is fully booked for October, look at nearby Orange (40 min), Blayney (25 min), Lithgow (50 min), Oberon (55 min) or Cowra (75 min) and commute in.
Practical Race-Week Tips
Arrive in Bathurst no later than the Wednesday before the race to beat the Thursday traffic crawl on the Great Western Highway. Bring cash for some on-site vendors, but cards are accepted at most food and merchandise stalls. The temperature in October can swing from 5°C overnight to 30°C during the day — pack layers, a wide-brim hat, strong sunscreen and a poncho for the typical Bathurst spring rain shower.
Public transport options include the NSW TrainLink Bathurst Bullet from Sydney Central, supplemented by special Supercars shuttle buses between the CBD, campgrounds and the circuit. Drink-driving is heavily policed throughout race week — use shuttles or rideshare. Don't miss the post-race Mount Panorama track invasion, when fans are allowed to walk onto Pit Straight to celebrate the winners.