The Race
| Next Race Date | To be Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop (four laps) |
| Registration | Open entry |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Colebatch Avenue, Thomson Bay, 07:00 |
| Finish | Bedford Avenue, Thomson Bay |
| Total finishers | 275 (2026) |
| Avg race-day temp | 14 to 19°C (June) |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours (course closes 13:00) |
| Free race-day transport | No |
| Course certification | World Athletics measured course |
History
The Rottnest marathon is a fixture of the West Australian Marathon Club and not a city mass-participation race. WAMC advertised the 2026 festival as its 32nd, and the club's results archive holds Rottnest marathon results from the mid-1990s, including 1996 and 1997. No source states a founding year.
The race has long used a multi-lap course around the settlement, the lakes and the northern bays, and not the full perimeter of the island. An older WAMC page describes a four-lap marathon, a two-lap half marathon and shorter races sharing the same base route, and the current race keeps that structure. The start and finish have moved within the Thomson Bay settlement over the years.
The course is measured. WAMC marks the marathon with the symbol it uses for a current World Athletics International Measurement Certificate, and a World Athletics list shows a certificate valid through 2028. That separates it from many scenic island races that are approximate distances.
WAMC states the course records directly. Gerard Hill ran 2:28:57 in 2019, and Kate Baker ran 2:47:53 in 2023, when she also won the race outright. In 2026 the marathon had 356 entrants, 293 starters and 275 finishers. Michael Carroll won in 2:37:22 and Tina Ingraham in 3:19:38.
The festival raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and post-race presentations have been held at Hotel Rottnest. Almost every runner arrives by ferry. In 2026 operators offered race discounts and very early departures, including 05:45 from Fremantle B Shed and 05:15 from Northport with one operator. The race is held in June, when winter cools the island and adds wind and showers.
The course
The marathon is a short opening section of about 2 km and four laps of about 10 km around the Thomson Bay settlement and the north and west of Wadjemup. In 2026 the start was on Colebatch Avenue in the Thomson Bay settlement and the finish chute was entered from Bedford Avenue, about 400 m away.
The course follows Digby Drive south-west from the settlement for about 4 km, returns north on Defence Road at about 5 to 6 km, then follows Noongar Loop at about 7 km, Bovell Way at about 8 km, Temeraire Road past Geordie Bay at about 9 km, Zephyr Road and Strue Road at about 10 and 11 km, and the Nyi Nyi Bidi path back to the settlement at about 12 km. Laps two to four repeat the same road. The four drink stations are at Digby and Defence, Noongar and Bovell, Geordie Bay, and Kitson and Heritage Common.
The surface is sealed road. The organiser publishes no elevation profile and none is drawn here, because the island's relief is small and satellite elevation reads below sea level in places. Exposed stretches mean wind can be strong, and repetition is the main difficulty.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 2: the opening section. The race starts on Colebatch Avenue at 07:00, with bagpipes at about 06:55, and the field settles quickly onto Digby Drive. These are the only kilometres that are not repeated. Use them to get the legs going.
Km 2 to 12: lap one. The lap continues south-west on Digby Drive to about km 4, turns back north on Defence Road, and passes the Digby and Defence station at about 5.1 km. Noongar Loop at about 7 km, the Noongar and Bovell station at 7.6 km, Bovell Way and Temeraire Road follow, with Geordie Bay at 9.3 km. Zephyr Road and Strue Road lead to the Nyi Nyi Bidi path and the settlement, where Kitson Street and Heritage Common are at 12.4 km. Exposed stretches mean the wind hits in places, so treat lap one as reconnaissance.
Km 12 to 22: lap two. Everything is now familiar. The drink stations come round at 15.0, 17.5, 19.3 and 22.3 km. The half marathon starts at 08:30, and later races can appear on shared sections, so expect more runners around you and stay alert at overtaking points and junctions.
Km 22 to 32: lap three. This is where the format bites. The kilometres feel slower because every bend has been seen twice. Wind is felt sharply without buildings to break it, and a wet June can leave the roads slippery and cold.
Km 32 to 42.2: the last lap. The stations come round at 32.3, 35.0, 37.5 and 39.2 km, and the finish chute is entered from Bedford Avenue. On the last lap WAMC asks marathoners to drop a $1 coin into a pot of gold near the bagpiper at The Basin. It is a luck ritual and not compulsory.
No blue line was documented. The measurement certificate confirms the official course, so follow the marshals, cones and signage and do not try to optimise tangents from an old map. Timing mats beyond the start and finish were not published.
The opening section and the first lap. Learn the exposed corners and where the wind hits.
Familiar ground and the half marathon arriving on the course. Take a drink at every station.
The repetition is hardest here. Hold your pace and do not pay for a fast first lap.
The last stations come at 35.0, 37.5 and 39.2 km. Take a $1 coin for the pot of gold and finish in the Bedford Avenue chute.
Course Map
A short opening section from Colebatch Avenue and four laps of about 10 km around the west of Wadjemup, finishing by Bedford Avenue. The line overlays itself. Tap a marker for the start, the finish, the Geordie Bay station, Hotel Rottnest and the ferry landing, 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 publishes no profile, the island's relief is small, and satellite elevation reads below sea level in places, so it is described in prose and not plotted. The line is the route of a previous edition.
Pacers
No pace-team programme was found for the 2026 marathon. With about 300 starters there is little need for waves, and marathon walkers and runners share the race.
The marathon is a short opening section and four laps of about 10 km, so supporters based in the Thomson Bay settlement can see the same runner four or five times on foot. Marathoners can leave labelled special drinks at the stations, so a supporter or a runner can plan fuel by station.
On their last lap, marathoners take a $1 coin and drop it into a pot of gold near a kilted bagpiper around The Basin. It is a luck ritual and not a rule. A piper also plays at about 06:55 before the start.
June is winter on Wadjemup. Rottnest Island tourism gives an average range of 13.5 to 18.8°C and about 103 mm of rain in the month. That sounds mild, but the island is exposed, a 07:00 start can be windy, and showers make the apparent temperature much lower.
A light windproof and waterproof layer is more useful here than a throwaway top. The same garment may be needed after the finish or on the ferry, where the deck can be cold and wet. No organiser system for donating discarded clothing was found, so do not plan to abandon a useful layer.
Wear kit for the second half, when the sun and the exertion have warmed you, and carry a cap in case the sky clears. Gloves are worth having at the start. The roads are sealed, so road shoes are right, but expect wet surfaces and choose a tread you trust.
Headphones were allowed in 2026, with the organiser suggesting one ear stay free for awareness. Marathoners can leave labelled special drinks at the stations, so you can plan your own fuel without carrying it for 42 km.
Entry
Entry is open through the West Australian Marathon Club. There is no ballot and no qualifying time. The latest complete entry schedule is 2026, when the marathon cost A$97 for WAMC members and A$122 for non-members, about £52 and £65. The first 400 marathon finishers received a finisher's shirt. The 2027 date and fees are not yet published.
Online entries for 2026 closed at noon on Thursday 11 June, three days before the race, with late registration on the island on Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00 and on Sunday from 06:00 to 10:20 for some events. Marathon availability late should not be assumed. A late-registration penalty applied to non-members. Distance changes had to be made by the same Thursday deadline.
There is no ballot, guaranteed-time route or charity-place scheme. The festival supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service as its beneficiary. No tour-operator allocation and no elite standard were found, and refund, deferral and transfer terms beyond WAMC's general club terms were not captured.
The ferry and the room are the scarce items and not the bib. The 07:00 start makes an overnight stay on the island much lower risk than a race-morning crossing. Because WAMC has not confirmed the 2027 date, book a cancellable room and do not commit to a non-refundable one from a secondary calendar date.
Fast runner standards
There is no good-for-age route and no qualifying standard.
WAMC: Wadjemup Rottnest Running Festival →Race Weekend
Bib collection
There is no mainland expo. Bib collection in 2026 was spread across the island: Friday from 16:30 to 17:30 at Hotel Rottnest, Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00 at Heritage Common, and Sunday from 06:00 to 10:20 at Heritage Common. Runners were emailed their bib number by Thursday and asked to bring it. The rule is No Bib, No Race.
Sunday collection helps race-day ferry travellers, but the window before a 07:00 start is short. Anyone staying overnight should collect on Friday or Saturday.
Marathoners can hand in labelled special drinks at Saturday collection, marked with the bib number and the aid-station code, and late drop-off was possible at the fourth station before the start. There is no large commercial expo, and specific 2027 collection venues and hours are unpublished. Hotel Rottnest is the social hub of the weekend and hosted the 2026 presentations at 13:00.
Getting to the start
The 2026 marathon started at 07:00 on Colebatch Avenue, with bagpipes at about 06:55. The half marathon started at 08:30, the 10 km at 10:20 and the 5 km at 10:30.
On the island. A room in Thomson Bay puts the start within walking distance and removes the weather and ferry risk. That is the best option. The start village is compact, close to toilets, cafés and bib collection, and Dôme was scheduled to open at 06:00.
By ferry on the day. Rottnest Express advertised sailings at 05:45 from Fremantle B Shed and 05:15 from Northport in 2026, with race discounts. Timetables and codes change every year. The normal crossing is about 25 to 30 minutes from Fremantle, 45 from Hillarys and up to 90 from Barrack Street Jetty in Perth, so a race-morning Perth departure is generally unsuitable. WAMC's 2026 guidance told B Shed passengers to arrive 45 to 60 minutes before departure because of terminal works.
Clothing and bag drop. A light waterproof and windproof suits the start. No clothing-donation system was found, and bag drop arrangements are unpublished, so overnight runners should leave spare kit at the room.
Finish. The chute is entered from Bedford Avenue, close to Dôme. First aid is at the finish, and cafés, Hotel Rottnest and the ferry landing are a short walk away. The course closes at 13:00, and presentations in 2026 were at Hotel Rottnest at 13:00.
Getting back. Leave a generous buffer before the ferry you booked. A hard marathon followed by a rush to the jetty is avoidable if a later sailing is available. Carry warm clothing, because the post-race ferry can feel cold.
Nutrition on course
WAMC's four drink stations serve water, electrolytes, bananas and gels. Exact brands were not named on the main page. Marathon runners can submit special drinks, labelled with the bib number and the station code, at Saturday bib collection, and late arrivals can leave them at the fourth station before the start. Supporters can hand a bottle to a runner at a station, which is a real advantage on a four-lap course because you meet the same table four times.
The gaps between stations are short, about 2 to 3 km, and there are four of them each lap, so you rarely need to carry fluid. Plan your fuel by station and not by watch: take a gel at the same table each lap.
First aid is at the finish and available on the course through station attendants, marshals and bike riders. A current toilet table was not published, though toilets appear on the course maps.
| Station | Marathon passes (km) | Water | Electrolyte | Gel | Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digby and Defence | 5.1, 15.0, 25.0, 35.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bananas |
| Noongar and Bovell | 7.6, 17.5, 27.5, 37.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bananas |
| Geordie Bay | 9.3, 19.3, 29.2, 39.2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bananas |
| Kitson and Heritage Common | 12.4, 22.3, 32.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bananas |
Spectating
Rottnest is one of the easiest marathons in the region to watch without transport. The four-lap design brings runners back through the settlement about every 10 km, passing the finish area at roughly 12, 22 and 32 km before finishing at 42.2 km. A supporter in Thomson Bay can see the same runner four or five times on foot.
The best single location is Kitson Street and Heritage Common. Runners pass the station there at 12.4, 22.3 and 32.3 km, it is close to the finish, and it is central to the settlement. Geordie Bay is the most scenic repeated sighting point, with passes at about 9.3, 19.3, 29.2 and 39.2 km. No official live-tracking app was identified, and quieter sections between the hubs can feel remote on the last lap.
- Watch the 07:00 start on Colebatch Avenue
- Move to Kitson Street and Heritage Common for passes at about 12.4, 22.3 and 32.3 km
- Walk to Bedford Avenue for the finish
- Use the island bus or a bicycle to Geordie Bay for passes at about 9.3, 19.3, 29.2 and 39.2 km
- Return to Thomson Bay for the finish
- Check bus timetables and road restrictions, because race roads can affect normal movement
- Use open paths and roads outside the closed race line to move between station areas
- Never ride on the course or obstruct runners
- Island transport controls on race day take priority
Post-race food
The finish is in the main settlement, so food is easy. Dôme Rottnest sits beside the finish area and was scheduled to open at 06:00 in 2026. Hotel Rottnest hosted the presentations and is the obvious place to gather near the settlement, though its food and drink change with the season.
The key runner point is the ferry. Eat before boarding if the booked return sailing leaves little choice at the terminal, and carry warm clothing.
Where to Stay
Stay on the island, close to the finish. Rottnest has no neighbourhoods in the usual sense, and at this race the start and finish are both in the Thomson Bay settlement, so the finish and the start point the same way.
Thomson Bay and the main settlement
Clearly the best base. Bib collection, the start, the finish, cafés and the ferry landing are all within walking distance. Noise is generally modest outside bars and events. Room supply is limited and prices are high, because every visitor is on an island with fixed inventory.
Hotel Rottnest and Samphire
The area around Hotel Rottnest, about 0.5 km from the finish, is the premium choice close to race operations, with the social hub of the weekend on the doorstep. It suits runners who will pay for no transport at all. Race-weekend prices and availability are the drawback.
The wider resort area
The island's other accommodation is still on the island and close enough for a short walk, ride or transfer, with more of a beach-resort feel. Check early-morning access before booking.
Fremantle
The best mainland base, because the crossing is only about 25 to 30 minutes and race-specific early sailings have run. The risk is a cancelled ferry, wind or a missed sailing. A hotel near the ferry terminal is far better than one that needs a long pre-dawn taxi.
Perth CBD
Attractive for sightseeing but poor for race-morning logistics. Barrack Street ferries take up to 90 minutes and may not run early enough. If you stay in Perth, cross the day before or move to Fremantle.
Booking advice is in the timeline below.
Recommended hotels
The premium zero-transfer option, close to race operations. Limited and expensive on race weekend.
The presentation and social hub of the weekend, a short walk from the finish. It can be lively, so check rooms and noise.
A mainland fallback near the harbour. It depends on an early sailing and on the weather.
Booking timeline
Book the ferry and the room almost as soon as you enter. The race is small, but island capacity is not, and the festival concentrates demand in a quiet month.
If you are staying on the island, take a cancellable room as soon as WAMC confirms the date. The date is not yet confirmed for 2027, so do not book a non-refundable property from a secondary listing.
Mainland runners should reserve a Fremantle hotel and a ferry together. In 2026 the ferry operators offered race discounts and special early departures with defined travel dates, and those codes will not carry over. International runners can build a wider Western Australia trip around Perth and spend two nights on Wadjemup. Arrive on the island by Saturday at the latest, or Friday for Friday bib collection if the schedule repeats.
See & Do
Distances below are straight-line from the finish. Almost everything on Wadjemup is within a short bus ride.
Wadjemup Museum
Close to the settlement and kind to tired legs. It gives cultural and historical context to the island beyond the beaches and quokkas.
Quokkas around the settlement
Winter makes quokkas more active. Do not feed, touch or give them water. It is a low-effort recovery activity.
Island Explorer bus
The best day-after option for seeing the West End without another long effort. Bus operations are seasonal, so check the timetable.
Wadjemup Bidi
Five connected walking trails total about 45 km. A long hike after a marathon is not recovery-friendly, so choose a short section or leave it for day two or three.
Whale watching
Whales can appear as early as June, but the island's own guidance gives the main Perth migration season as August to December. Do not treat a June race weekend as peak whale season.
After the Race
June is winter in Western Australia. The trips below start on the island and continue to Fremantle, Perth and the south-west.
A recovery day on the Island Explorer bus, with short bay stops and quokkas, and no cycling.
A port town of compact streets, cafés and maritime history, an easy step from the island to the mainland.
Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park viewpoints and museums, paced gently.
Cellar doors and winter forest roads, with whales starting along the coast. A car is needed.