EVENT TERMS & CONDITIONS

DOAC (DOH-ak) TROPHY 2027 - An event presented by Defenders of Australia Club Inc, bringing Defender owners from across the country on a phenomenal adventure from Cooktown, Qld to Darwin, NT, Australia. It is an event for those with green blood, an adventurous spirit, and a desire to relive the spirit of the iconic 1986 Australian Camel Trophy. 

Enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry while immersing yourself in the camaraderie of fellow Land Rover Defender enthusiasts, creating memories that will last forever. The legend of the DT27 is the Defender! 

• To enter, your vehicle must be a Land Rover Defender or its lineage from 1983 onward. The older your vehicle, the more starting points your team receives! 
• There are only 20 vehicle starting positions! 
• The team leader must be a bona fide member of Defenders of Australia Club Inc. 
• Teams consist of two members, forming one team with one Defender! 
• Teams must declare a team name on the registration form. i.e., Team [......] 
• Teams must be comprised of 2 licenced drivers.
• The Team Registration fee covers both team members 

The team event fees cover your team's… 

• Campsites / Accommodation, 
• Permits fees & charges, 
• Breakfast and dinner are included on most days; teams must bring their own refreshments, snacks, and some emergency meals. 
• Event insurance, 
• (DOH-ak) Trophy Pack, including Compulsory Vehicle stickers, your team’s inc merchandise, and a few surprises.
• Event costs are calculated per team, not per individual. 
• The event cost is $3,500 per team, plus a $500 partnership contribution to Cameleers Inc. 
• Upon registration, a non-refundable deposit of $400 per team is required to secure your place in the event. 
• Obviously! There’ll be extra points for the best themed vehicle. 

One Team, One Defender!

• All team members must agree to the terms and conditions upon registration.
• Registrations open on the 1st of June 2026!
• Registrations officially close on 1st September 2026 or once all positions are filled. 
• Officials may end registrations at any time due to logistical requirements and reserve the right to remove registrations with a full refund, less the registration deposit. 
• The event cost is $3,500 per team, plus a $500 partnership contribution to Cameleers Inc. 
• Upon registration, a non-refundable deposit of $400 per team is required to secure your place in the event. 
• Our costs are calculated per team, not per individual.
• Teams consist of two members, forming one team with one Defender! 
• A team cannot enter the event with one team member.
• Registration fees are non-refundable after seven days from registration.
• If a team does not withdraw in writing within seven days, they forfeit their deposit, and another team may take their place.
• Final team invoices will be issued in February 2027. 
• All team members must be at least 18 years old.
• Registration forms must be completed by every participant, including personal details, medical information, and emergency contacts.
• Every team member must hold a full driver’s licence. Learner drivers are not permitted to drive in the event. 
• Your vehicle must be registered and comprehensively insured.
• All vehicles and participants must hold Third-Party Property Insurance for the entire duration of the event. 
• A hard copy of your Registration and Third-Party Property Insurance will be required at scrutineering.
• All vehicles must comply with the mandatory vehicle requirements. 
• By registering, you agree that your team’s name, your name, photos, and related information may be used in promotional material across all platforms.
• Indemnity – All participants must fill out a standard indemnity form at the (DOH-ak) Staging Camp upon signing in.
• All participants must complete a private health screening survey. This will be conducted by our paramedic officer via email once your team is registered.
• While event coordinators will do their best to assist during a breakdown, the event organisers and their officials are not responsible for the recovery costs of vehicles or teams. 
• We strongly recommend insuring your team with suitable insurance or breakdown services.
• Participants are not allowed to tow any trailers.
• The event coordinators reserve the right to amend or change registration, the terms and conditions or mandatory vehicle requirements at any time; any updates will be communicated to all registered teams promptly.
• Participants are to follow all instructions given by event coordinators or their assigned officers.
• Every day is an adventure just waiting to unfold! 

MANDATORY VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS 

All Vehicles MUST meet the following criteria: 

• Vehicles must be registered and roadworthy at the time of the event. 
• Teams must carry Third Party Property Damage Insurance for the duration of the event. 
• Sponsor vehicle stickers are compulsory and must be attached to your vehicle. Signage placement guidelines will be provided. No unauthorised stickers to be on your vehicle. 
• Vehicles must have a flashing amber light mounted so it is visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. [Red, Blue, Green, or purple lights are not permitted. - If your amber light is not visible due to gear stored on the roof rack, you will need two amber lights fitted.] 
• Carry a first-aid kit in the vehicle. 
• Carry at least two fully operational 80 Channel UHF radios.
• Carry a functional spare wheel and tyre. 
• Carry a suitable jack for your vehicle, [you will be jacking your vehicle]
• Carry a practical tyre repair kit. 
• Carry recovery boards.
• Carry a suitable shovel 
• Carry a functional, in-date mounted ABE class fire extinguisher. 
• Fit extra driving lights to your vehicle. [Defender lights aren’t the best] 
• Carry all equipment needed to change a tyre. [You will be changing a tyre!]
• Rated front and rear recovery points [NO TOW-BALLS or TOW BALL TONGUES TO BE FITTED OR USED FOR RECOVERY!] Tow bar mounted rated recovery hitch only!
• Carry a functional tyre inflation device and pressure gauge. [You will be deflating and inflating tyres] 
• A complete set of recovery gear! Soft shackles only!
• A working GPS device and a working trip meter or trip computer app installed on your phone or tablet. [You will need to be able to track km’s travelled.] 
• Carry at least 20 litres of fresh water.
• Carry a toolkit suitable for your vehicle, including essentials such as pliers, duct tape, electrical tape, a hammer, cable ties, a water dispersant, and spare parts specific to your vehicle. 
• All vehicles must carry and be responsible for a range of common spare parts and consumables suitable for your vehicle. Some basic parts and consumables will be available through our mechanical support, British Off Road, for purchase, but they will cost you points.
• Your team is responsible for all your gear, and all personal effects and/or equipment carried in or on your team’s vehicle must be legally and safely mounted in or on your vehicle.
• Your vehicle must have a minimum range of 500km and carry a minimum of 20L reserve fuel - fuel is your team’s responsibility. Scheduled fuel stops will be planned along the route. We cannot control fuel costs throughout the event; you are advised to carry as much fuel as your team deems necessary in reserve. 

RECOMMENDED VEHICLE ADDITIONS 

• All-terrain or Mud-terrain tyres are the minimum standard suited to the harsh conditions of the north. 
• Your team is responsible for all your gear, personal effects, camping gear, etc. A roof rack is an easy way to ensure you have enough room for all your gear. Please ensure it is legally and safely mounted. 
• A cargo barrier is highly advisable to secure stored items in the rear of your vehicle in the event of a sudden stop. Please ensure that luggage or equipment is securely restrained if no barrier is installed. . 
• Whilst not compulsory, we strongly advise teams to install a winch at the front of your vehicle. 

CAVEATS: 

• Please be aware that an adjustment to event costs and mandatory requirements may be necessary due to changes in insurance and/or event logistics. If deemed necessary, a finalised adjustment list will be sent before scrutineering to ensure all teams have time to be equipped. 
• A scrutineering checklist will be provided to download on the website. Your team must cover the checklist to prevent a last-minute scramble to pass scrutineering. 
• Third-Party Property Damage Insurance is not the same as the Compulsory Third Party Insurance included with some states’ standard vehicle registration. You are advised to read your insurance policy wording (PDS – Policy Disclosure Statement) to ensure you are not excluded from coverage during the event. It is recommended to confirm your insurance coverage with your insurer before the event, rather than discovering you are not covered after an incident. 
• No personal support vehicles allowed; participants are responsible for their vehicles’ success. 
• All vehicles must carry all spare parts and equipment needed for their vehicle in case of a breakdown, in the spirit of all trophy events beforehand. One Team! One Defender! 
• Mechanical support and parts are supplied by our presenting sponsors, British Off Road on a purchase basis. Support is available to advise, but part of the fun is teams working together to solve issues as they come up. 
• While event coordinators will assist as much as possible if there is a breakdown, the event organisers and/or their officials are not responsible for the cost of recovering your vehicle or team. Many insurance and/or road assistance companies offer a variety of insurance packages, and we strongly recommend that your team make sure they are insured in case they need additional help. 

• We will provide campsites, some with access to amenities and some without, for the duration of the event. 
• Your team and its members are responsible for their camping equipment and personal hygiene. [A schedule of destinations, campsites or accommodation venues will not be made public to participants until the start of each day’s roll-out.]
• Breakfast and Dinners will be provided most days, bivouac style. [As part of the points being awarded, teams are required to assist in all bivouac kitchen duties across the event.]
• Participants are required to provide or purchase their refreshments and snacks, and some emergency meals for the duration of the event. [Make sure you have some cash, in case of no eftpos services] 
• Whilst every effort is made to cater to individual dietary requirements, please be advised that this is not always or at all possible. 
• Designated drivers must agree to breath testing, which will be conducted before we roll out each day 
• Participants must provide all their medication requirements for the duration of the event. [Whilst medical support is provided, this is for emergency assistance only.] 
• A personal mess kit – [Inc; Plate, Bowl, Knife, Fork, Spoon and Tea-towel]
• Carry a minimum of 20L of fresh water

The event staging camp marks the official start of the DOAC Trophy; the first task is getting there!

• Sign in is on the 28th of May 2027 
• Teams will be given clues to the location near Cairns, Australia, one month out from the event. 
• The team’s first challenge is to find it and arrive on time! 
• Final vehicle scrutineering and sticker up will take place at the staging camp. 
• All Teams are required to sign in, complete and submit final paperwork and Pass scrutineering.
• Points are awarded for a smooth, efficient registration
• WARNING! All team members must be present at scrutineering. 
• Scrutineering will take place early in the day, to allow teams to finalise any last-minute additions to mandatory team and vehicle requirements. 
• Vehicles and teams that do not meet the final scrutineering requirements at the staging camp, WILL NOT! be able to join the event and will forfeit their event costs. 

Event Safety and Medical Briefings will be conducted and are mandatory for all teams.