The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 18 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop: two laps of 21.1 km |
| Registration | Open entry, three price tiers |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Start | Ballarat Town Hall, Sturt Street, 08:00 |
| Finish | Ballarat Town Hall, Sturt Street |
| Total finishers | To be Confirmed |
| Avg race-day temp | 7 to 17°C (April) |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours |
| Free race-day transport | No |
| Course certification | AIMS; measured to World Athletics standards |
History
The Ballarat Marathon is one of the newest big races in Australia. It was first run in 2024, on a two-lap course designed by Steve Moneghetti, the four-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games marathon champion who grew up in the city, and it grew fast. By its third edition in 2026, almost 12,000 people registered across the weekend, from 19 countries, with 300 volunteers, and both the full and half marathons sold out.
It attracted serious runners from the start. Thomas Do Canto won the first men's race in 2:17:04, Reece Edwards ran 2:16:56 in 2025 and Caden Shields won in 2:18:07 in 2026. The women's winning times have fallen each year: Ella McCartney ran 2:40:55 in 2024, Kate Mason 2:33:55 in 2025 and Ellie Pashley 2:30:47 in 2026. The course records are 2:16:56 and 2:30:47, and the organiser pays a bonus to anyone who beats them.
The course is certified by AIMS and measured to World Athletics standards, and the race is a qualifier for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships. The weekend carries a full programme, with a mile, a 5 km, a 10 km and a half marathon alongside the marathon and the shorter events on the Saturday. The race is held in late April, when the elms and oaks along Sturt Street and the lake are turning.
The course
The Ballarat Marathon is two laps of the 21.1 km half-marathon course, starting and finishing outside Ballarat Town Hall on Sturt Street in the centre of the city.
Each lap runs west on Sturt Street, the broad boulevard of gold-rush buildings and monuments, to Victoria Park, where it loops through the avenues of Newington (Cedar Drive, Poplar Avenue, Oak Avenue) between about 3 and 6.5 km. It rejoins Sturt Street and runs on to the Arch of Victory at 7.7 km and a turnaround at Alfredton at 8.5 km, the furthest point from the start at 4.9 km. It comes back east along Sturt Street past the Arch again at 9.8 km, and at about 12.5 km turns onto Wendouree Parade for a full circuit of Lake Wendouree, reaching its north end at 16.0 km. It returns to Sturt Street at about 19 km and runs down to the Town Hall for halfway.
Drink stations stand every 3 to 3.5 km. The organiser publishes no total climb.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 2.5: out along Sturt Street. The race leaves the Town Hall at 08:00 and heads west along Sturt Street. The legs are cold and the field is tight, so hold back: the same road brings you home at the end of the lap.
Km 2.5 to 7: Victoria Park. The course turns off Sturt Street into Victoria Park and loops through its tree-lined avenues, Cedar Drive, Poplar Avenue and Oak Avenue among them, on closed roads. It is green and quiet for spectators, and the turns come often.
Km 7 to 12: the Arch and back. Back on Sturt Street the route runs west past the Arch of Victory at 7.7 km, the memorial arch at the head of Ballarat's Avenue of Honour, to a turnaround at 8.5 km, and returns past the Arch at 9.8 km. Wind from the north or west is most noticeable on this exposed stretch. The run back east along Sturt Street is where crowds and entertainment gather.
Km 12 to 19: Lake Wendouree. At about 12.5 km the course turns onto Wendouree Parade and circles the lake, open and flat, with the north end at 16.0 km. Runners describe it as the fastest part of the lap and the most exposed to wind. On lap two, from about 34 to 40 km, it is where the race is decided.
Km 19 to 21.1: down to the Town Hall. The last two kilometres run back down Sturt Street to the Town Hall. At halfway, marathon runners continue past the finish for a second lap. On lap two, this road is the finish straight.
The second lap is the same circuit. Half-marathon runners start at the same time and finish at halfway, so the course thins noticeably after 21 km. A 2026 runner report singled out wind and a warming day as the difficulties of the second lap. There is no published blue line, so follow the course markings, especially where the route doubles back on Sturt Street.
A tight, cold start on a long boulevard. Let the field settle.
The park avenues, then the western end of Sturt Street past the Arch of Victory. Flat, with wind the main variable.
A full circuit of the lake on Wendouree Parade, then down Sturt Street to the Town Hall for halfway.
The same circuit, thinner and usually warmer and windier. The lake circuit from about 34 km decides the finish time.
Course Map
Two identical laps from the Town Hall: west on Sturt Street, through Victoria Park, out to the Arch of Victory and back, then a full circuit of Lake Wendouree. The line overlays itself. Tap a marker for the Arch, the turnaround, the lake, the bag drop and the expo, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
The organiser lists flag-carrying pace groups, but the target times are not published on the official page.
The course was designed by Steve Moneghetti, Ballarat's best-known runner, to use the city's widest streets and its lake. Two laps of 21.1 km mean the half-marathon course and the marathon are the same circuit.
Ballarat sits about 435 m above sea level and late April is cool. Mornings are often in single figures and the day may reach the mid to high teens. The 08:00 start is later than most Australian marathons, which helps with the cold and means the second lap runs into the warmest part of the morning.
Corrals open at 07:00. For an hour on Sturt Street, a throwaway layer or a bin bag is worth having. No clothing collection is advertised, so put anything valuable in the Mining Exchange bag drop.
On the course, shorts and a singlet or T-shirt suit most runners, with gloves and arm warmers on a cold morning. Wind is the factor runners mention most: the lake is open and a northerly can make the second lap hard work. Rain is possible at any time of year, and a cap helps in both rain and sun.
Entry
Entry is open, with three price tiers and no ballot. The marathon costs A$205, about £109, in Tier 1, A$220, about £117, in Tier 2 and A$235, about £125, from late March. There is no qualifying time. Both the marathon and the half marathon sold out in 2026, so enter early.
Entries are non-refundable. Race Roster offers optional refund protection at checkout, which is worth taking for a runner who has booked flights and hotels months ahead.
The race is a qualifier for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships, and the course is AIMS certified. Elite and preferred-start categories exist for fast runners, with access to a personal-drinks service, and need proof of performance. Charity fundraising is a large part of the weekend, with about 250 charities supported in 2026.
Fast runner standards
There is no general good-for-age route.
Ballarat Marathon (organiser) →Race Weekend
Expo and bib collection
The expo and bib collection are at Selkirk Stadium, 989 Norman Street, Wendouree, on the Friday (09:00 to 19:00) and the Saturday (09:00 to 20:00) before the race. There is no race-morning collection.
Selkirk Stadium is about 3 km north of the Town Hall in a straight line, so it needs a car, a taxi or a local bus. Plan it into Friday or Saturday instead of squeezing it into the evening. Runners in Ballarat early can collect at the Running Warehouse store in the first days of April, by registration.
The Saturday also has a bag pre-drop from 11:30 at the Mining Exchange, 16 Lydiard Street North, in the centre, so a Sunday bag can be left the day before. The mile and 5 km races run on Sturt Street that day, so the city centre is already busy with runners.
Getting to the start
The marathon and half marathon start together at 08:00 outside Ballarat Town Hall, 225 Sturt Street. The wheelchair half starts at 07:55. Bag drop opens at 06:00 at the Mining Exchange, 16 Lydiard Street North, corrals open on Sturt Street at 07:00 and should be full by 07:30.
Where to sleep. Stay in Ballarat on the Saturday night. V/Line trains from Melbourne's Southern Cross take about 90 minutes, and no Sunday service arrives in time for 08:00.
Getting to the start. From central hotels the Town Hall and the Mining Exchange are a few minutes' walk. Sturt Street closes from 06:00 between Grenville Street and Golf Club Drive, along with Victoria Park and Wendouree Parade, so do not plan to drive. There is one managed vehicle crossing point, at Dawsons Avenue.
Corrals. Corrals are seeded by predicted time. There is little room for a warm-up on Sturt Street once they fill, so jog on the side streets beforehand.
The finish. Runners move into the recovery zone on Armstrong Street South, with water, Fixx products, fruit, medical and physiotherapy support and toilets. Bags are collected from the Mining Exchange, and central hotels are a short walk.
Nutrition on course
Thirteen drink stations serve the marathon, every 3 to 3.5 km, at 3, 6, 9.5, 12.5, 15.5, 19, 21.4, 24.5, 27.5, 30.5, 33.5, 36.5 and 40 km. Every station has water, Fixx Fuel X electrolyte in Tropical Fruits flavour, Fixx Gel X Pro gels and toilets.
Gels at every station are unusually generous. Runners who have not used Fixx gels should try them in training or carry their own. The recovery zone after the finish has water, Fixx products and fruit, and elite and preferred runners can use a personal-drinks service.
| Km | Water | Electrolyte | Gel | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 6 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 9.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 12.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 15.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 19 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 21.4 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 24.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 27.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 30.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 33.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 36.5 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
| 40 | Yes | Fixx Fuel X | Fixx Gel X Pro | Yes |
Spectating
Ballarat is easy to watch on foot. The course runs up and down Sturt Street four times and passes the Town Hall at halfway and the finish, so a supporter who stays in the centre sees a runner several times without transport. Sturt Street is closed to traffic but open to pedestrians, and the shops along it stay accessible.
The best single spot is Sturt Street near the Town Hall, for the start, halfway and the finish. Lake Wendouree is the best second spot, about 1.7 km west of the Town Hall, where runners pass between about 12.5 and 19 km and again between 34 and 40 km. Live music and community groups line the course. Tracking details for the next edition have not been published.
- Town Hall for the 08:00 start
- Walk west along Sturt Street for about 20 minutes to the lake end of the street for km 12 and km 19
- Back to the Town Hall for halfway and the finish
- Watch the start at the Town Hall
- Walk about 25 minutes to Wendouree Parade for the lake circuit, km 12.5 to 19
- Walk back for halfway, or stay at the lake for the second lap, km 34 to 40, then walk back for the finish
- Start at the Town Hall
- Walk or take a bus about 3 km to Victoria Park for km 3 to 7 and again for km 24 to 28
- Return to Sturt Street for the finish
Post-race food
The finish is in the middle of Ballarat, with the cafés and pubs of Sturt Street and Lydiard Street North a short walk from the recovery zone. With about 12,000 people in town over the weekend, book Sunday lunch in advance. Lydiard Street North, with its Victorian hotels and the Mining Exchange, has several pubs serving lunch.
Nearly 30 local businesses join the race's Carb Party on the Saturday, which is the easiest way to find pre-race pasta.
Where to Stay
Stay in Ballarat Central, within walking distance of the finish at the Town Hall. The start, finish, bag drop at the Mining Exchange and the recovery zone are within a few blocks, and Sturt Street is closed on race morning, so a central room removes every transport problem.
Ballarat Central
Ballarat Central, around Sturt Street, Lydiard Street and the Bridge Mall, puts everything within a 10 minute walk. The heritage hotels and pubs fill first, and Saturday night can be lively, with pubs full of runners.
Soldiers Hill
Soldiers Hill, just north of the centre, is a quiet residential area of old cottages and bed and breakfasts, close to Ballarat station and a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Town Hall. It suits runners arriving by train.
Lake Wendouree
Lake Wendouree, on the western side, has houses and a few guest houses along the course itself, about 1.7 km from the Town Hall. It is a good place for a slow walk after the race, but further from the bag drop, and the roads around it are closed on race morning.
Bakery Hill
Bakery Hill, east of the centre, has motels and value hotels within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the start. Choose it for price.
Sovereign Hill area
The area around Sovereign Hill, south-east of the centre, has family-friendly apartment hotels for anyone combining the race with sightseeing. It is 2 km from the Town Hall, a 25 minute walk or a short drive.
Booking advice is in the timeline below.
Recommended hotels
A gold-rush hotel a couple of minutes from the Town Hall and the bag drop at the Mining Exchange. Heritage rooms vary, so ask for a quiet one.
Opposite the station, useful for anyone arriving by V/Line, and a short walk down Lydiard Street North to the start.
A value motel within a few minutes' walk of the Town Hall, with parking.
Booking timeline
Book accommodation when you enter. Almost 12,000 runners registered for the 2026 weekend, both long races sold out, and Ballarat is a regional city with a limited number of central rooms.
Plan to arrive by Saturday afternoon at the latest: bib collection closes at 20:00 on Saturday with no race-day pickup, and the 08:00 start rules out travelling from Melbourne on Sunday morning. Most international runners fly into Melbourne. From Melbourne Airport allow about 90 minutes to drive to Ballarat, or take the SkyBus to Southern Cross and a V/Line train of about 90 minutes. The race falls close to Anzac Day (25 April) in some years, when Victoria's roads and trains are busier, so check the calendar for the year you run.
See & Do
The first two are within a kilometre of the finish, and the other two are short trips out along the course.
Art Gallery of Ballarat
One of Australia's oldest regional galleries, on Lydiard Street North, holding the original Eureka Flag. Indoors and level.
Sovereign Hill
A living museum of the 1850s gold rush, with costumed streets, gold panning and a mine tour. It means hours on your feet on sloping gravel, so plan it for Monday or Tuesday instead of race afternoon.
Lake Wendouree and the Botanical Gardens
The lake the course circles, with flat paths and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on its shore. Walking it slowly on Monday is a good way to see what you ran past.
Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour
The memorial arch passed on the course, at the start of an avenue of trees planted for local people who served in the First World War. Best seen by car.
After the Race
Late April is autumn in central Victoria, with cold mornings, clear days and the European trees in the spa towns and along the city's avenues turning gold. Melbourne is 90 minutes away by train, and the Grampians and the spa country are within two hours by car.
The 1850s gold-rush town rebuilt on the site of the diggings, with panning in the creek and costumed streets. Take it slowly: the main street slopes.
Victoria's spa country, with mineral baths, a flat path round Lake Daylesford and autumn colour in the streets.
Sandstone ranges rising out of the plains west of Ballarat, with short walks to lookouts, kangaroos on the Halls Gap oval and Aboriginal rock art.
Laneways, galleries and the Royal Botanic Gardens, three nights in the city before flying home from Melbourne Airport.