Australia · Road running
Australia road marathons
Australia’s road marathons take in harbour crossings, coastal roads and inland towns. Find race dates, entry options, course maps and previous results, from Sydney and Melbourne to smaller fields elsewhere in the country. There is plenty to look at, although keeping an eye on the kilometre markers remains advisable.
20 race guides · 42.195 km / 26.2 miles · Dates through 2027
Upcoming marathon dates
Find road marathons taking place between now and the end of 2027. Compare the location and approximate field, then open a race guide for entry options, course maps and previous results. Runner numbers refer to the year shown; Unknown means a reliable estimate is not available.
| Date | Marathon | City / location | State / territory | Approximate field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadbury Marathon | Claremont, Hobart | Tasmania | About 280 finishersFinishers · 2025 | |
| Busselton Bay Run Marathon | Busselton | Western Australia | About 210Finishers · 2026 | |
| Orange Running Festival Marathon | Orange | New South Wales | About 120Finishers · 2026 | |
| Hobart Marathon | Hobart | Tasmania | About 700Finishers · 2026 | |
| Bunbury 3 Waters Marathon | Bunbury | Western Australia | About 230Finishers · 2026 | |
| Canberra Marathon | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | About 2,400Finishers · 2026 | |
| Ballarat Marathon | Ballarat | Victoria | About 2,500Finishers · 2026 | |
| Henderson Newcastle Marathon | Newcastle | New South Wales | About 850Finishers · 2026 | |
| Adelaide Marathon | Adelaide | South Australia | About 800Finishers · 2026 | |
| Brisbane Marathon | Brisbane | Queensland | About 2,600Finishers · 2026 | |
| Wadjemup Rottnest Island Marathon | Wadjemup / Rottnest Island | Western Australia | About 280Finishers · 2026 | |
| ASICS Gold Coast Marathon | Gold Coast | Queensland | About 15,000 marathon entrantsEntrants · 2025 | |
| Cairns Marathon | Cairns | Queensland | About 600Entrants · 2025 | |
| Alice Springs Marathon | Alice Springs | Northern Territory | About 40Finishers · 2025 | |
| EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon | Alexandra Headland | Queensland | About 2,900Finishers · 2026 | |
| TCS Sydney Marathon | Sydney | New South Wales | About 36,300Finishers · 2026 |
Race dates TBC (4)
- Nike Melbourne Marathon · Melbourne, Victoria — TBC — awaiting confirmation
- Townsville Airport Marathon · Townsville, Queensland — TBC — awaiting confirmation
- Perth Running Festival Marathon · Perth, Western Australia — TBC — awaiting confirmation
- Barossa Marathon · Tanunda, South Australia — TBC — awaiting confirmation
Choosing a road marathon in Australia
Think in states, then in start lines
Australia is a sizeable place to go for a run. Use the state and territory directory to narrow the journey before comparing coastal roads, parklands and city courses. Check the precise start and finish venues when booking accommodation, particularly for a course that finishes somewhere different from where it starts. A room near the finish is useful only if you can also reach the start.
Separate the marathon from the festival
Several events offer shorter distances alongside the full marathon. Make sure the date, entry option and course map you choose all refer to the 42.195 km race. The field figures below identify the year and what was counted, so a festival total does not quietly become the number of marathon runners. Check the organiser’s current timetable before arranging travel around a previous edition’s start time.
Browse by state / territory
Find a race in your area, or compare the options for a trip. Routes may cross regional boundaries.
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Explore the races
Sydney, New South Wales
TCS Sydney Marathon
North Sydney to the Opera House via the Harbour Bridge, Centennial Park and Mrs Macquarie's Chair; consult the organiser for the final edition's route.
Course: Undulating; the published 2026 route lists 313 m ascent and an 83 m net descent.
Entry routes: Public ballot · Charity and official travel places
TCS Sydney Marathon guideMelbourne, Victoria
Nike Melbourne Marathon
Starts on Batman Avenue and finishes inside the MCG, visiting St Kilda and Albert Park. The 2026 redesign changes direction on Beach Road.
Course: Generally flat; revised 2026 course removes the late Birdwood Avenue climb.
Entry routes: Ballot and alternative entry pathways · Qualifying and elite applications
Nike Melbourne Marathon guideCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Marathon
A Parliament House loop leads through Telopea Park, Anzac Parade, Barton and Weston Park before returning beside Lake Burley Griffin.
Course: Rolling city course with a climb on Anzac Parade.
Entry routes: Direct entry
Canberra Marathon guideBrisbane, Queensland
Brisbane Marathon
City streets, the Story Bridge and riverfront sections through Kangaroo Point and New Farm, finishing in the City Botanic Gardens.
Course: Includes bridge climbs; see the official course map for the elevation profile.
Entry routes: Direct entry
Brisbane Marathon guideAlexandra Headland, Queensland
EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon
Single loop from Alexandra Headland through Twin Waters and Mudjimba, crossing the Sunshine Motorway Bridge twice.
Course: Predominantly flat, with bridge crossings.
Entry routes: Direct entry
EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon guideCairns, Queensland
Cairns Marathon
Four laps on the Cairns Esplanade and surrounding streets.
Course: Flat multi-lap course.
Entry routes: Direct entry and early-access registration
Cairns Marathon guideTownsville, Queensland
Townsville Airport Marathon
Two approximately 10.5 km city loops plus a 21.1 km Pallarenda loop; Jezzine Barracks start and finish.
Course: Flat three-loop course.
Entry routes: Direct entry
Townsville Airport Marathon guideNewcastle, New South Wales
Henderson Newcastle Marathon
Coastal and harbour route through Honeysuckle, Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Beach. Changes are planned for 2027.
Course: Described by the organiser as flat; final 2027 course subject to change.
Entry routes: Direct entry
Henderson Newcastle Marathon guideHobart, Tasmania
Hobart Marathon
Multiple laps around Hobart's waterfront, Salamanca Place, the River Derwent and Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The full 2027 map is pending.
Course: Undulating; the organiser describes rolling hills.
Entry routes: Online entry
Hobart Marathon guideBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat Marathon
Two laps of the Steve Moneghetti-designed circuit from Ballarat Town Hall, using Sturt Street and the Lake Wendouree area.
Course: A repeated city-road circuit; check the official course map for elevation.
Entry routes: Online registration · Elite athlete application
Ballarat Marathon guidePerth, Western Australia
Perth Running Festival Marathon
A flat route around Burswood Park and the Swan River with a finish inside Optus Stadium.
Course: Flat
Entry routes: Waiting list
Perth Running Festival Marathon guideAdelaide, South Australia
Adelaide Marathon
City and parkland circuit from the Adelaide Oval precinct, through North Adelaide and around the city parklands. Consult the published map for turns and lap arrangements.
Course: Flat
Entry routes: SARRC registration
Adelaide Marathon guideTanunda, South Australia
Barossa Marathon
Barossa Valley roads with a 1.4 kmsealed rail-trail section between Light Pass Road and Research Road, used twice in the full marathon.
Course: Generally flat to gently rolling
Entry routes: SARRC online entry
Barossa Marathon guideOrange, New South Wales
Orange Running Festival Marathon
Gosling Creek Reserve to Forest Road, with Orchard Road, Forest Reefs Road and Spring Terrace Road loops, then back to the reserve.
Course: Gently undulating
Entry routes: Online registration
Orange Running Festival Marathon guideGold Coast, Queensland
ASICS Gold Coast Marathon
Coastal out-and-back road course from Southport, south through Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach to Miami, then north beside the Broadwater.
Course: Flat coastal course; the published 2025 route had 62 mof ascent.
Entry routes: 2027 entry release
ASICS Gold Coast Marathon guideBusselton, Western Australia
Busselton Bay Run Marathon
Geographe Bay Road start and coastal shared path out towards the Quindalup Boat Ramp before returning to Busselton.
Course: Coastal out-and-back with several turnarounds.
Entry routes: Online ticket release
Busselton Bay Run Marathon guideWadjemup / Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Wadjemup Rottnest Island Marathon
Four-lap island-road marathon. The 2026 guide starts at Heritage Common and visits salt lakes and the northern bays, with the Oliver's Hill extension used once.
Course: Undulating coastal circuit
Entry routes: WAMC registration
Wadjemup Rottnest Island Marathon guideBunbury, Western Australia
Bunbury 3 Waters Marathon
Two circuits connect Big Swamp, Back Beach, Marlston Hill lighthouse, Jetty Road, Whalebone Bridge, Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet boardwalk, returning to Ocean Drive. The lighthouse climb and zig-zag descent fall around 8–9 km and again around 29–30 km.
Course: Undulating, including the lighthouse climb on each lap.
Entry routes: 2027 online registration · Organiser-approved transfer
Bunbury 3 Waters Marathon guideAlice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs Marathon
From Simpsons Gap along Darken Drive to the ranger-station out-and-back, then along the Simpsons Gap path and back to the start.
Course: Undulating out-and-back route
Entry routes: 2027 registration
Alice Springs Marathon guideClaremont, Hobart, Tasmania
Cadbury Marathon
Published route from Cadbury Road through the estate, Main Road and the MONA area to Bowen Bridge, returning to the factory. Final 2027 route confirmation is pending.
Course: Undulating, including bridge crossings and the return climb to Claremont.
Entry routes: In-person marathon registration
Cadbury Marathon guideCommon questions
Which road marathons are included in this Australia guide?
This AthRecs guide includes 20 road marathons in Australia, including TCS Sydney Marathon, Nike Melbourne Marathon, Canberra Marathon, Brisbane Marathon, EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon. Open a race guide for its course, entry options, dates and previous results.
When are the next road marathons in Australia?
The next confirmed dates in this guide are Cadbury Marathon on 3 Jan 2027; Busselton Bay Run Marathon on 13 Feb 2027; Orange Running Festival Marathon on 7 Mar 2027. All dates are local to the race.
How do I enter a road marathon in Australia?
Open an individual race guide to compare its entry methods and eligibility rules. Follow the official entry links for registration windows, qualifying requirements, fees and available places.
How can I compare road marathon courses in Australia?
Use the course summaries to compare terrain, surface and start-to-finish arrangements, then open the individual guide for official maps. A net-downhill course is not necessarily flat, and a road race may include paved paths or a track finish. Check the receiving event’s rules if you need a qualifying time.
Are the approximate fields the number of people who entered?
Each figure states its basis and year. Entrants, starters and finishers are different counts; a previous finishing field is a guide to scale, not an entry total or a guaranteed future field. Figures are approximate, and Unknown means a reliable estimate is not available. They are not multi-year averages unless explicitly described that way.
Where can I find past race and category results?
Each race guide links to the organiser’s results. Choose the correct distance and edition to find a runner or published category standings.