Orienteering is a sport using a map and often a compass to run/jog/walk courses in bush, parkland or built-up areas such as university campuses.

 Andrew Brown from the Big Foot club in Sydney is pictured on a typical sprint course around the UWS Bankstown campus, these events are short, fast and can be quite complex to navigate.

The carnival runs from September 23 to October 1, 2017, and organisers expect more than 800 participants ranging in age from 8 to 88, covering all fitness levels from elites to social orienteers.

Four Australian Championship events (three of them will have World Ranking Event status) and three Australian Schools Championship events are being decided during this carnival.

Each of these seven events will also be open to the public to come along on the day and try a course.

Basic coaching will be provided at each event.

More than $1 million is expected to be pumped into the local economy over the nine days of the carnival, which finishes a week before the annual Bathurst 1000.

In 2014 Australia's biggest orienteering event, the Easter Orienteering Carnival, was held in around Rylstone, the Gardens of Stone National Park, the Clandulla State Forest and neighbouring properties before heading to the Cherry Farm for the final day.

For that event over 800 competitors took part from all over Australia and beyond with some making the trip from Hong Kong and New Caledonia to take part.

The 2017 Australian orienteering carnival program:

September 23, Australian Sprint Champs – CSU, Bathurst;

September 24, Australian Middle Distance Champs – Hill End;

September 26, Australian Schools Champs and Public Race - Roseberg State Forest;

September 27, Australian Schools Sprint Champs and Public Race - All Saints College, Bathurst;

September 28, Australian Schools Relay Champs and Public Race - Vittoria State Forest;

September 30, Australian Middle Distance Champs – Hill End;

October 1 Australian Relay Champs – Hill End.

More info at onsw.asn.au