Top 12 Marathons & Fun Runs for Your Australian Running Calendar

Imagine the Sydney Harbour Bridge being closed to cars just for you. Or leading the pack as you run through Perth's Northbridge Tunnel.

Running or walking is a great way to connect with your destination, and Australia's running calendar takes in some of the country's top icons, such as Sydney's most famous bridge, the Gold Coast's glittering beaches and Victoria's Great Ocean Road. While you could train up to become one of the one percent who runs a marathon, that's not everyone's cup of electrolytes, so the country's key running events and festivals have courses to suit all ages, abilities and fitness levels.

Wherever you and your running shoes find yourselves, there's a running event nearby. Read on for a dozen of the best. 

One of the world’s most glamorous running courses puts the Sydney Marathon firmly on the top of Australia’s running calendar, with more than 50,000 runners competing for a place at the starting line. The hilly, 42.195km course starts in North Sydney, crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and ends with a downhill run to fame, glory and the finishing line at the Opera House, a short train trip from ibis Sydney World Square.

The first marathon, in 2000, was a litmus test for the upcoming Olympic Games, and Australia's richest marathon is now held annually in late August; runners must now apply by ballot to enter, as places are in hot demand since the marathon joined the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors series in 2024.

The ballot opens 11 months ahead of race day, and is open for about five weeks. There’s also 10km event and a 5km mini marathon.

Running holds a special place in the Gold Coast's bronzed and beautiful heart. Held each July in midwinter, the marathon course for the two-day Gold Coast Marathon festival is regarded as Australia's flattest and fastest, which means, hello, personal best (PB)! In fact, 60 percent of runners beat their PB on this course, using it as a footing to apply for a spot in the bigger marathons.

A favourite with first-time marathoners, the out-and-back course starts right at the water's edge in Southport and runs alongside the region's glorious beaches and the Broadwater. Other races at the annual event include a wheelchair marathon and a 2km kids' run.

Can't get enough of pounding the pavement and sucking sports gels? Run the half marathon on the Saturday, and follow it up with the full marathon on Sunday for 63.3km for absolute bragging rights. 

Don't blink if you're running beside a bloke in a ballgown, or girls in gorilla suits; Sydney goes all-out for the world's largest fun run, a 14km course from Hyde Park in Sydney's CBD to the glorious sweep of Bondi Beach.

With more than 80,000 starters, the course is a party scene for supporters: expect bands at every corner, while the 5km Heartbreak Hill is the make-or-break for many runners, and shows who's been training, and who's just here for the after-run dance party. Plenty of people run the course for charity (although there are plenty of competitive runners, as well), and it's a great starter for first-time event runners. 

On Sydney's social scene since 1971, it's held annually in August and public transport to the event is included in your ticket. ibis Styles Sydney Central is a five-minute walk (or a warm-up jog!) to the starting line. 

Melbourne's palm-lined beachfront is the hero of this relatively flat course, which starts near the Rod Laver Arena and ends with a lap of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Running for nearly 50 years, the event includes a wheelchair marathon, a 21.1km half-marathon, 10km, 5km, and 2.5km events, as well as a one-kilometre mini marathon for the littlest joggers under 12 years of age.

You'll join more than 40,000 starters at this fast-growing event. It's a short tram ride from the finishing line to ibis budget Melbourne CBD right in the city centre. 

Perth's biggest running festival sees more than 40,000 runners, walkers and wheelers on course, raising funds for charities while staying fit and healthy. Three main courses, the half-marathon, the 12km and the 3km fun run each have different highlights, such as the rare opportunity to run through the Northbridge Tunnel, and follow the banks of the Swan River to the common finishing point, Gloucester Park, a short walk to ibis Styles East Perth.

Australia's oldest marathon takes a tour of the nation's capital each April in a two-day running festival, which started in 1976. There are five events including a half-marathon, 10km and 5km routes as well as a kids' dash for runners 14 and under. All the events start in front of the picturesque Old Parliament House, in the Parliamentary Triangle.

Each September, Brisbane's biggest fun run, the Bridge to Brisbane, sees runners line up at the Gateway Bridge in Murarrie or Hercules Park, Hamilton, to tackle a 10km and 5km course ending at the Brisbane Showgrounds, a 10-minute drive from ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth in the heart of the city.

The entry price includes public transport to and from the event, not to mention a snappy finisher's medal, and raises more than a million each year for charities including cancer research, halting domestic violence and guide dog associations. Entrants in wheelchairs and prams are warmly welcomed, and there are even prizes for the best dressed.  

Australia's renowned for its scenic marathons, but the Great Ocean Road may win them all. Starting beachside at Lorne, the marathon runs 44km along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. Runners have to factor in the climbs and terrain changes, not to mention the unpredictability of the weather on the wild Victorian coastline.

Take it a step or two further and sign up for the 60km Ultra, while the 12km trail run gets you off road and into the forested hinterland. There are also shorter walks and kids' runs, while the 14km Paradise Run sees a course through the Great Otway National Park. Keep some fuel in the tank to join the festivities at either end, with live music and even post-race yoga.

Tick off the 5km, the 10km, the half marathon or go for the full 42.195km full marathon at this classic running festival, which winds up at the Optus Stadium on the Swan River. Held each October, the event continues to grow year-on-year - register early as waitlists are common for the festival. For a convenient, budget-friendly stay only six minutes' drive from the finishing line, make ibis Styles East Perth your base. 

The city's biggest winter running event sees Melbourne's streets closed for fast, flat routes of 21.1km, 10km and 5.5km. Held each July, the event is designed to raise funds for charities while helping people run to their very best physical and mental wellbeing. Starting beside the Yarra River at Batman Avenue, it finishes up at Melbourne Park Oval; you could jog the 2.7km back to your stay at ibis Melbourne Central but no one's going to judge you for jumping a tram. 

Run, walk or wheel your way through Adelaide at South Australia's largest fun run, the City-Bay Fun Run. The longest event of the running festival is the 21.1km half marathon, from Glenelg Beach Bay to Adelaide's city centre and back, while the main event is the 12km course, from the city to the sea at Glenelg (hence the race's name). From its first race back in 1973, where runners paid 50c to participate, the prize money these days is a hefty $3000 for the top male and female runners. 

Mother's Day is marked around Australia with city-stopping running festivals in all the state and territory capitals. It is a major fundraiser for breast and ovarian cancer research, and with an eye on inclusivity, most of the events include 4km and 8km runs or walks. The main Melbourne event now features a half-marathon (21.1km), and takes in the city's favourite running track, The Tan. 

Parkrun is a global phenomenon that sees people gather in their local neighbourhood every Saturday morning for timed, 5km runs. Free and run by volunteers, there are more than 530 parkrun locations around Australia where you can walk, jog or run in the company of others; a great way to meet the locals in your travels.