The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 11 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop (start and finish at Optus Stadium) |
| Registration | Open entry, sold out with a waiting list |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Optus Stadium, Burswood, 06:00 |
| Finish | On the turf inside Optus Stadium |
| Total finishers | 3,019 (2025) |
| Avg race-day temp | 10 to 23°C (October) |
| Cutoff time | 7 hours |
| Free race-day transport | Yes, Transperth trains with a race bib |
| Course certification | AIMS-measured course |
History
The Perth Marathon is the West Australian Marathon Club's own race, and the club counts the coming edition as its 47th. That number is the only firm anchor to its age: no source found states the founding year, and cancelled or missed years would make the sum wrong.
The race lives inside the Perth Running Festival today. WAMC still bills it as the Perth Marathon and gives club members their own race-day area, while the festival handles registration and operations. The two names describe one race.
The modern version starts and finishes at Optus Stadium in Burswood. The stadium opened in January 2018 and holds 61,266 people, and the marathon ends on its playing surface. The organiser markets the course as fast and flat, and its own map graphic records 187 m of total gain against a start elevation of 5 m and a high point of 32 m.
The field has grown into a mass-participation size. The 2025 marathon recorded 4,320 registered runners, 3,086 starters and 3,019 finishers, and the 2026 marathon had sold out by the end of September. World Athletics lists the 2025 race as the WA State Marathon Championships. Paul Eyanae of Kenya won the men's race in 2:24:23 and Kellen Waithira of Kenya won the women's in 2:38:52. Those are winning times for that edition and not course records.
The course
The marathon starts at 06:00 at Optus Stadium in Burswood and finishes on the stadium turf. The 2025 route, still shown by the organiser for the coming race and marked subject to change, leaves the stadium for a loop over the Causeway and Matagarup Bridge, returns through Burswood and then runs along the Graham Farmer Freeway to Newcastle Street at about 14 km.
From there it follows the Mitchell Freeway path and crosses the Narrows Bridge at about 18 km to the Kwinana Freeway through South Perth, with a turnaround near Como at about 24 km. It recrosses the Narrows at about 30 km, runs west on Mounts Bay Road to a second turnaround near Crawley at about 34 km, and returns along Riverside Drive and the river paths to the stadium.
The organiser's 2025 elevation graphic gives a 5 m start, a 32 m maximum and 187 m of total gain, most of it on bridge ramps and overpasses. The surface is sealed road and riverside path. Check the final race guide for any last-minute road changes.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 8: Burswood. The first eight kilometres stay close to the stadium. The route leaves through Warndoolier Boulevard and Roger Mackay Drive, follows Camfield Drive, crosses the Causeway at about 3 km and Braithwaite Street in East Perth at about 4 km, and returns over Matagarup Bridge at about 5 km. It passes the stadium precinct again around 6 to 7 km on Victoria Park Drive. It is flat, and it is the section where the 06:00 start temperature is at its friendliest. Settle to the goal pace and not the pace the profile tempts.
Km 8 to 14: the freeway. Runners take the Graham Farmer Freeway for about five kilometres, from about km 8 through Rivervale, back past Burswood and into East Perth, and leave it for Newcastle Street at about km 14. Traffic is closed, but there is no crowd and no shelter from the wind.
Km 14 to 18: the Mitchell Freeway. The route runs west on Newcastle Street and turns south on the Mitchell Freeway path through Northbridge and West Perth, then reaches the Narrows Bridge at about km 18. The bridge ramp is the longest single rise on the course.
Km 18 to 24: the Kwinana Freeway. South of the Narrows the course follows the Kwinana Freeway through South Perth and Como to a turnaround at about km 24, the farthest point from the stadium, 7.7 km away in a straight line. This is open, quiet for spectators and usually the first place the sun and any wind are felt properly.
Km 24 to 30: back to the Narrows. The return retraces the same road north. Perth's spring sun is well up by now for anyone running four hours or more. Runners recross the Narrows Bridge at about km 30, which gives a second sighting for supporters on the bridge walkway.
Km 30 to 37: Mounts Bay Road. The route runs west along Mounts Bay Road beneath Kings Park to a turnaround near Crawley at about km 34, then returns on the same road to Birdiya Drive at about km 37. The road is broad and exposed, and runners see the field on both sides. Local runners identify this as the section where a hot-weather race is decided.
Km 37 to 42.2: the river home. The last five kilometres follow Riverside Drive at about km 38 and 39, the Boorloo Bridge and Trinity shared paths at about km 40 and 41, and the Burswood foreshore path to the stadium. The last few hundred metres go through the stadium tunnel and onto the turf, where the finish stands. The timing mat is inside the stadium, so do not stop the watch at the wall.
No blue tangent line was documented, so hold the shortest sensible line on the wide roads. Runners' watches read about 42.5 km in 2025, which is typical for a city route with several turnarounds.
Flat and cool around the stadium, the Causeway and Matagarup Bridge. Hold goal pace and ignore the early lead of the pack.
Five kilometres of the Graham Farmer Freeway, then Newcastle Street and the Mitchell Freeway path to the first Narrows crossing.
The Kwinana Freeway to a Como turnaround at about 24 km and back over the Narrows at about 30 km. Take drinks at every station in a warm year.
The exposed western turnaround, then Riverside Drive and the river paths into the stadium. Most of the heat cost is paid here.
Course Map
The 2025 route from Optus Stadium over the Causeway and Matagarup Bridge, along the Graham Farmer and Mitchell Freeways, across the Narrows Bridge to Como and back, then west along Mounts Bay Road and home by the river paths. Tap a marker for the start, the train stations, the Narrows crossings and the turnarounds, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course.
No elevation chart is drawn for this course. The organiser's own graphic gives a 5 m start, a 32 m maximum and 187 m of total gain, mostly from bridge ramps and overpasses. On the 2025 route, GPS elevation dips below sea level at several points, which is error, and satellite elevation reads the river and bridges as water, so neither is plotted.
Every marathoner finishes on the turf of Optus Stadium. Spectators can enter through Gates A, D and E and watch from the Level 1 west seating, aisles 126 to 135, and Gate A is preferred because it avoids crossing the race route. Runners use the stadium tunnel and finish on the field, and the timing mat is inside, so keep running through the tunnel. The stadium precinct has food trucks and St John medical crews.
Perth in October starts cool and finishes warm. A 06:00 start usually sits between 11 and 14°C, and the mean daily maximum for the month is about 23°C, so runners finishing after 09:30 will be running in the low twenties with the sun well clear of the horizon. Runners who took part in the most recent edition described it as unexpectedly hot late on.
Wear kit for the second half of the race and cover the cold start with something disposable. A throwaway top or bin bag is the usual answer. Do not assume the organiser collects discarded clothing for charity, because no such arrangement was found in the published race information.
A cap or visor is worth carrying from the start. Sunscreen applied at 05:30 will still be doing its job at the Mounts Bay Road turnaround. A headwind on the river sections is possible at any time. Consider a light running vest or a top with a pocket for gels, because gel is at only four of the 13 aid stations.
Rain is possible in October, with a mean rain chance around one in five on any given day. A running cap with a brim keeps water off the face better than a headband.
Entry
Perth Marathon entry is open, with no ballot and no qualifying time, but it now sells out. The 2026 race was sold out with a waiting list well before race week. The entry fee is A$195, about £104, and it includes the race bib, safety pins, a race information booklet, a finisher medal and a finisher shirt. Runners must be 18 or older on race day.
Register through Race Roster on the Perth Running Festival site. Choose a start group on the form by estimated finish time. All groups are self-seeded, and the organiser lets runners move group if the group they want has not sold out.
Entries can be transferred online to another person at no event fee, and entrants can move to a different distance if the new event has space, paying any difference. There is no refund for a withdrawal or for moving down to a shorter event. A transfer made after 2 September in the latest edition required the new entrant to collect the bib at the expo. The terms page carries some stale dates from an earlier year, so the current FAQ is the better guide to policy.
No guaranteed fast-runner entry route was found. The event holds the WA State Marathon Championships, but that is a title within the race and not a separate entry route. The 2026 festival charity partner is Telethon, and entrants are invited to fundraise for its beneficiaries, which is a fundraising option and not a charity-place system. Wheelchair entries were not open for the marathon in 2026. Because the race sells out, book flights and hotels only after the bib is secure.
Fast runner standards
There is no good-for-age route and no qualifying standard.
Perth Running Festival: Marathon →Race Weekend
Bib collection
Bib collection is at Optus Stadium, between Gates A and B, directly opposite Perth Stadium Station. For the coming edition it runs on Friday 9 October from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 10 October from 08:00 to 16:00. No bibs are handed out on race day.
Bring the Race Roster confirmation email. A nominated person can collect for a runner if they carry a copy of that email, and team captains can collect team bibs with the relevant confirmations. Runners who paid for postage do not need to collect in person. Any change to an entry made after the published deadline has to be handled at the information desk during collection.
Perth Stadium Station is at the door, on the Armadale and Thornlie-Cockburn lines, and the Belmont Park and Marlee Lawn car parks have limited event parking. Public transport is the simpler option. A Burswood hotel makes collection a short walk, and the city centre is a short train journey.
Friday is the calmer day. Saturday afternoon is busier, and it is the last chance, so plan to collect on Friday if arriving from overseas. The 2025 event guide said the clothing drop service was available only at pack pick-up on Friday and Saturday, with no drop on race day. Merchandise is sold at the collection point.
Getting to the start
The marathon starts at 06:00 at Optus Stadium, and runners must assemble by 05:45. That is the earliest start of the four festival distances. The half marathon follows at 07:40 and the 4 km at 08:45, both from the stadium precinct, and the 10 km starts later from Langley Park.
Start groups are self-seeded. Follow the signage into the group that matches the estimate you gave at entry, and move back and not forward if unsure. The field is more than 3,000 runners.
Getting there. The stadium is served by Perth Stadium Station on the Armadale and Thornlie-Cockburn lines. Registered runners travel free on Transperth trains to and from the stadium by wearing the bib, and Transperth runs special early services. The 2025 event guide described three hours of free travel that could be used before, during and after the event. Roads around the stadium close from about 03:30, and the organiser discourages driving. Belmont Park has strictly limited event parking.
Where you stay decides the morning. A Burswood hotel means walking. A central city hotel means an early train from Perth Station to Perth Stadium Station, which is short but should be checked on the Transperth event page the week before. Northbridge, East Perth and South Perth runners need a train, taxi or careful bus plan, because ordinary Sunday services may not run early enough.
At the start. The stadium precinct provides toilets, event services and medical crews. Toilet queues at 05:30 are longer than the map suggests, so arrive at 05:00 for a pre-start visit. Wear a disposable layer, and do not assume it is collected for charity.
Bag drop. The 2025 guide said the clothing drop was available only at bib collection on Friday and Saturday, with no drop on race day. Check the current guide before packing a bag.
Finish. Runners finish on the stadium turf. The cutoff is seven hours, which from a 06:00 start is 13:00, and the organiser's FAQ says the event concludes around 13:00, with the event village open until about 14:00. Finishers receive a medal and, while stocks last, a finisher shirt. Food trucks operate on the Northern Oval, the City View Cafe is scheduled to open 07:00 to 15:00 and St John medical crews are around the stadium precinct.
Getting back. Perth Stadium Station is the natural exit. Keep the bib for the free train. Burswood hotel guests can walk. Do not rely on rideshare at the stadium gate straight after the race, when demand is at its highest.
Nutrition on course
The official marathon page lists 13 aid stations from 4.6 km to 41.5 km. Water is at all of them, and every station has toilets. Gatorade is offered at eight stations from 13.5 km, and LVL UP gel at four of them. The organiser marks all distances as subject to change.
The first three stations are water only, so runners who use a sports drink from the start should carry their own until 13.5 km. The gaps between stations are 2 to 4 km through most of the race, and they stretch to 3.8 km between 28.2 and 32.0 km, which is the point where the sun and the exposed Mounts Bay Road come together.
Gel appears at 16.8, 23.0, 32.0 and 35.5 km, so a runner who takes gel every 30 to 40 minutes should carry a spare or two for the gaps. Cup format, personal-bottle service, sponges, ice and misting were not published.
Plan drink intake on the assumption that the second half will be warmer than the start suggests, and start sipping early and not when thirsty. Runners who sweat heavily should look at the 20.0, 23.0 and 25.2 km run of three consecutive Gatorade stations as the place to catch up.
| Km | Water | Gatorade | LVL UP gel | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 8.6 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 10.7 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 13.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 16.8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 20.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 23.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 25.2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 28.2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 32.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 35.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 38.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 41.5 | Yes | Yes |
Spectating
A spectator can see a Perth Marathon runner at least four times without a car, and the Narrows Bridge is the best single trick. The course crosses the Narrows twice, at about km 18 heading south and about km 30 coming back, and the pedestrian walkway on the bridge stayed open in the most recent edition while the road was closed.
Optus Stadium is the best base for a supporter who does not want to travel. It combines the start, guaranteed finish access, toilets, food trucks and the train. Spectators can enter through designated stadium gates and watch the finish from the Level 1 west seating, with Gate A encouraged to avoid crossing the course. Gates A, D and E are the listed entrances.
Crowd density thins on the freeways and long river-road sections. No official live-tracking app was found. Agree a meeting gate in advance, because thousands of people leaving the same building make phone signal unreliable.
- Watch the 06:00 start at Optus Stadium
- Take the train to Perth Station and walk or cycle to the Narrows Bridge walkway for the first sighting at about km 18
- Stay for the second crossing at about km 30, then take the train back to Perth Stadium Station for the finish
- Take an early train to Perth Station
- Walk to Mounts Bay Road, which the runners use out and back between about km 31 and 37, for two sightings on the same road
- Return by train to the stadium for the finish
- Stay in the stadium and Burswood area
- Watch the start, then the return through the stadium precinct in the first hour, and wait for the finish on the Level 1 west seating
- The lowest-risk plan for families, with toilets and food close
Post-race food
The first food is at the stadium. Food trucks operate on the Northern Oval from early in the morning, and the City View Cafe is scheduled to open 07:00 to 15:00. Finishers receive a medal and shirt, and water and food are available in the precinct.
For a sit-down meal, Crown Perth is within walking distance of the stadium and concentrates a large number of restaurants across several price levels. That is the practical choice for runners staying at Crown Promenade, Crown Metropol or Crown Towers, since it removes any onward transfer. Opening times change, so check the Crown website for the specific restaurant on the day. The Elizabeth Quay and central Perth waterfront is a short train ride away and offers a wider spread of casual restaurants and bars, which suits groups who cannot agree what to eat.
Where to Stay
Stay as close to the finish as budget allows. At Perth Marathon the start and finish are the same place, Optus Stadium in Burswood, so the finish recommendation and the start recommendation point the same way.
Burswood
The race-first choice. Crown Promenade, Crown Metropol and Crown Towers are about 1 km from Optus Stadium, and the stadium's own hotel partner is Crown. A Burswood room removes the early-train risk, makes bib collection a short walk and turns the post-finish journey into a stroll. The trade-offs are price and a resort-and-casino setting. Book early, because the walkable rooms are few and stadium events lift demand.
Perth CBD
The best all-round base. Perth Station connects to Perth Stadium Station, Elizabeth Quay, shops and restaurants are close, and inventory is far larger than at Burswood. The early event train is short. Saturday-night noise varies by block, so pick a hotel away from late bars.
East Perth
Sits between the CBD and the stadium and is quieter than either. Depending on the property, the stadium is a train, a taxi or a longer walk away. It suits runners who want calm streets and river access.
Northbridge
The densest restaurants and nightlife and easy access to Perth Station, so the race-morning train is simple. It is also the noisiest place to stay on a Saturday night, which matters for a 05:45 assembly.
South Perth
River views and a residential pace, good for family recovery walks. It is less direct to Optus Stadium than the rail-served areas and needs a taxi or a planned bus before dawn. The course passes through the south side around the middle of the race.
Fremantle
A strong base for a post-race stay, but a poor one for race weekend. The train to Burswood adds a substantial early journey. Stay in the city for the race and move to Fremantle afterwards.
Book a Burswood hotel as soon as the bib is secure, on a cancellable rate. Booking advice is in the timeline below.
Recommended hotels
The highest comfort of the three Crown hotels and a sensible pick for a recovery-first stay after the race. Book early.
Walkable to Optus Stadium, which turns bib collection and the finish into a short walk with no train. It is a resort precinct with a casino next door, so expect event pricing and a busy lobby.
The same walk to the stadium as its sister hotels, with 24-hour room service that helps with a 05:45 assembly and a post-race appetite.
The budget-conscious option, quieter than the CBD core. Plan a taxi or an early train, because it lacks the direct station access of Burswood.
A central riverfront base close to Perth Station. It needs the early event train on race morning and is not walkable to the start.
Booking timeline
Secure the bib first. The marathon sells out, and the 2026 race was full weeks before race day, so a hotel booked before the entry is a hotel that might not be used. Once a bib is confirmed, book a cancellable room straight away.
Burswood's walkable rooms are the first to go, because Optus Stadium hosts events all year and the marathon adds to demand. Central Perth has far more inventory, so a CBD room can be booked later, though race weekend still lifts prices in October, a popular month for travel to Western Australia.
UK-based runners should treat flights as the larger cost and the longer lead. The journey from London to Perth is long and fares rise as the date approaches, so book flights months ahead where the dates are fixed. Bib collection ends on Saturday afternoon, so aim to arrive on Thursday or Friday, which also gives time to adjust to the time difference. A Monday departure leaves the day after the race free for a gentle outing.
See & Do
Distances below are straight-line from Optus Stadium. Kings Park and Elizabeth Quay are a train ride from the finish.
Elizabeth Quay
A level waterfront precinct reached by train or bus, with ferry access and river cruises. It suits tired legs because the walking is short, flat and easy to stop.
WA Museum Boola Bardip
An indoor, weatherproof option in the Perth Cultural Centre, with seating and lifts. It works on a wet October day or the afternoon after the race.
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
The park sits beside Mounts Bay Road, where the course turns, and gives context to the run. October is spring, so the Botanic Garden may still carry wildflowers, though flowering varies. The park is hilly, so keep to viewpoints the day after the race.
Fremantle
The port city is a train ride from the city and needs no car. Keep the market and the heritage streets for after the race if you plan to stand for hours.
Rottnest Island
Better as a post-race day than a Saturday plan, because the island is explored by bike or on foot. On the day after a marathon use the island bus and short beach walks.
After the Race
October is spring in Western Australia. The trips below run from a train to Fremantle to a three-hour drive to Margaret River.
Fremantle Prison, the Cappuccino Strip on South Terrace and the harbour, all reachable on the train from Perth Station. Flat streets suit tired legs.
Wadjemup's quokkas, sheltered bays and a bus loop that takes the effort out of cycling. October is spring, with clear water and mild days.
Western Australia's oldest wine region, a short train and taxi ride from the city. Seated tastings and long lunches in spring.
Vineyards, forest roads and coast, with southbound humpback whales off the Leeuwin-Naturaliste peninsula in spring. A car is needed.