In a rogaine, teams of two to five people choose which checkpoints to visit within a time limit with the intent of maximising their score.

The name was formally adopted by the Victorian Rogaining Association at its inaugural annual general meeting in August 1976 and accepted by Scouts Australia and University bushwalking groups to give the new sport an identity in its own right.

Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass between checkpoints in terrain that varies from open farmland to hilly forest.

A central base camp known as a "hash house" provides hot meals throughout the event and teams may return at any time to eat, rest or sleep.

Teams travel at their own pace and participants can practise cross-country navigation at their own level of competition and comfort.