Q1 Stair Challenge 2026: Conquer the Climb on Sunday 23 August!
The 2026 Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge is officially ON Sunday 23 August and it’s bigger, better and LOUDER than ever!
Get ready to sprint, walk or climb your way up 77 floors to SkyPoint’s epic 230-meter-high summit. It's all about serious fitness, unreal views, and raising funds for LIVIN to support mental health education.
Rise to the challenge!
This thrilling event is open for participants of all levels—run, walk, or climb to the top and be rewarded with breath taking views. Register as an individual or a team, and support Gold Coast charity partner LIVIN with a $50 fundraising pledge.
And why not make it an unforgettable weekend by staying at the Q1 Resort and Spa.
Step up to the challenge—don’t miss this unique opportunity! Put on your running shoes, get together with some friends and see if you can conquer the SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge!
What you need
to know
Date: Sunday 23 August 2026
Location: Q1, 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise, starting from Clifford Street.
Time: Check-in opens 6:30am, Waves start 7:00am
Registration: Register online by 12 noon the Saturday before or enter on the day, unless sold out.
Registration inclusions
Tower / charity branded bib
Electronic timing (including results and an eCertificate)
First aid assistance if required
Drink, medal and fruit when finishing
Views of the Gold Coast that are hard to beat as you cross the finish line on Level 77
The opportunity to purchase event photographs
Bragging rights and a Monday morning story that is tough to beat!
Fundraising REQUIREMENT
All participants are required to donate or raise a minimum of $50, using your personal fundraising page automatically set up when you register. Every dollar raised helps LIVIN break the stigma around mental ill-health and promotes wellness through awareness, prevention and early support.
Share your climb with family and friends via social media and email—$50 adds up fast, and you might be surprised who jumps in to support you.
And why stop there? Fundraising legends who raise $150 or more will score a FREE exclusive LIVIN gift, available to collect on event day from the LIVIN team.
IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK
❤︎
HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE
❤︎
BREAK THE STIGMA
❤︎
IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK ❤︎ HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE ❤︎ BREAK THE STIGMA ❤︎
How it works
REGISTER
Make sure you’ve registered for the event here
FUNDRAISE
A fundraising page will automatically be set up and emailed to you. Make your $50 donation pledge, then share it with your friends, family and colleagues to let them know what you’re doing.
CLimb
Why not challenge someone you know to some friendly rivalry! Challenge your friends, workmates and family to climb with you!
Top fundraisers
About LIVIN
LIVIN was founded on the Gold Coast in honour of a great man, Dwayne Lally, who like many others took his life after suffering in silence from a mental illness. The number of deaths by suicide in young Australians in the highest it has been in 10 years; it is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44 years, and alarmingly, 2 out of 3 Australians with a mental health problem do not access professional support. Much of this is due to stigma, and LIVIN is here to change this.
LIVIN exists to create a future where suicide is no longer the number one killer of young Australians, but getting this important message out there has financial costs. Your participation in events such as the Q1 Stair Challenge, provides a wonderful opportunity to ensure present and future generations of young Australians have the gift of receiving access to life-changing, potentially life-saving mental health education.
The funds raised through community events such as Stair Challenge go straight into delivering the LIVINWell program to high school students across Australia. It is knowledge and understanding that heals and defeats stigma.
Let’s climb, connect, support and encourage one another to turn the tide against the leading cause of youth death in Australia, because “It Ain’t Weak to Speak”. Help people start LIVIN again.
Frequently asked questions
-
Stair Climb Rules
Please keep to the railing whilst climbing the stairwell.
If it is obvious that someone wants to overtake you, please allow them to.
Do not push, shove or block other runners.
Failure to maintain good sportsmanship will result in disqualification.
Assist other climbers if they require help at any stage.
No Go Pro Style cameras to be worn during event. Filming of any kind in stair well is prohibited.
Participants must be at least 8 years of age to participate in the Sea 2 Sky - SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge, or 6+ years if participating in the Junior Buddies Climb**.
-
Click here to see the 2026 Registration costs.
-
The SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge takes place on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at Q1, 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise.
Starting from Clifford Street, participants will climb 77 floors to the SkyPoint observation deck in various categories, including Elite Runners, Teams and Fancy Dress.
Check-in opens at 6:30 am, with bibs available for collection on event day.
Waves start from 7:00 am, and climbers are spaced apart to keep the stairwell uncongested. Teams’ times are combined to determine category winners, while individual climbers aim to reach the top in 18-20 minutes. Multi-climbers require prior registration.
First aiders will be in attendance on the day. They will be located near the start line, finish line, level 31 and 59. If you need to stop for a minute or two on the way up our first aiders are super friendly! If you need a quick sip of water they will have one for you before you continue on to the top.
What to Expect on the Day & How it Works:
Whether you choose to run, walk or do a bit of both, you will notice your heart rate will rise significantly as you climb. For this reason we recommend that all participants warm-up so that you increase your heart rate by 25-30 beats per minute just prior to participating.
Individuals will be sent off one at a time with approximately a 10 second gap between participants. Teams will line up together at the start line and can choose to go one at a time or as a group. After each group starts, we ensure a gap before the next participants to ensure the stairwell remains uncongested.
All persons will start from the Clifford Street starting line. For team ascenders, buddies and junior buddies and schools challenge participants, your individual times will be added together after the completion of the last persons arrival at the observation deck. The team with the lowest combined time is deemed the overall champion for that category. Please note that all participants in a team must complete the climb in order to be eligible for prizes in respective categories.
Remember, a stair challenge is a short duration, high intensity activity. Most participants can expect to complete the challenge within 18-20 minutes. Please see the 'Should I train for the event' section for tips on preparing for the SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge.
*It is very common to experience a cough in stair challenge events. Most people assume that it is due to poor air quality in the stairwell, or that there is excess dust, but that is not the case. It happens in any air environment, even outside events. -
When your registration has been paid, you’ll receive a link to your individual fundraising page.
Update it with your own photo and a blurb about why you’re raising funds for LIVIN and taking part in the Q1 Stair Challenge!
Kick start your fundraising by making a $50 donation.
Share your page to your socials or via email to encourage donations. And you’re off!
We can send you a Fundraiser Toolkit with information you can share with your friends, family and colleagues.
Get in touch with Deanna Van Reyk at fundraise@livin.org if you need fundraising support or would like to discuss your ideas.
Enjoy a great day out climbing the Q1, knowing you are taking on a challenge to help LIVIN create a world where suicide is no longer the leading cause of death amongst our youth.
-
If you are unable to participate due to injury or illness, contact steve.corrie@active8change.com.au as we are happy to either:
Transfer your entry to a friend (must notify us 3 days prior to the event)
Transfer your entry to the following year (must notify us 3 days prior to the event)
NB: we are unable to provide refunds for registrations. If unable to participate, money raised for the charity partner via online fundraising cannot be returned, however we can count the amount donated towards a transferred entry (as above).
-
The Bruce Bishop Car Park is a short walk from Q1, click here for more information. For other Gold Coast car parking information click here.
Transport options
To check out the easiest way of getting to and from the SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge by public transport, click here. -
Clickhereto view the results from the event.
Click here to view photos from the event .
Photos can be viewed 24 hours after event completion. 10% of sales will be donated to event beneficiary, LIVIN | Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health.
-
-
To maximise your performance in the Skypoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge, we recommend some form of training. Remember that how you participate on the day is up to you - you can walk, run, shuffle...or do a little of each.
Have a look at our general training guidelines below and also check out the some great training spots near you, courtesy of our good friends at Stair Climbing Australia.
To complete a stair climb challenge you require good cardiovascular endurance. Essentially this can be achieved through common fitness activities like swimming, running, cycling and hiking. But to take your performance to the next level, you will also need good lower body muscular strength. This can be achieved through hill climbing, soft sand running, stair climbing (of course), squats and general weight training in the gym.
-
If you are traveling for the event why not stay at the best address on the Gold Coast - Q1 Resort and Spa!
Simply click here to access 15% off normal room rates on the event weekend using code ACTIVE8
-
The team at Skypoint have discounted the access to the Skypoint Observation Deck on the day to a flat fee of $10. So your family and friends can join you as you cross the Finish Line . Tickets can be purchased on the day at the Ground Floor Skydeck ticket counter.
The 2026 Q1 Stair Challenge is proud to be part of the Festival of Climbing which takes in three events in four days.
First is the River to Rooftop on August 20 (Brisbane) followed by Rhapsody on August 22 and Q1 on August 23.
Are you in for 1, 2 or all 3?
Ready to stair down your next challenge Gold Coast?
Get a team of friends, family or colleagues and register NOW!