Great Ocean Road Marathon
The Lowdown
One of Australia's most iconic point-to-point marathons, the Great Ocean Road Marathon has run along Victoria's dramatic southwest coastline since 2005. The course starts at Lorne SLSC on Mountjoy Parade and follows the Great Ocean Road through Wye River, Kennett River and Skenes Creek before finishing at the Apollo Bay Hotel — tracing sheer cliffs, rainforest gullies and windswept Southern Ocean views, with resident koalas frequently spotted along the route. The official course is measured at approximately 44.6km (about 2.4km longer than a standard IAAF marathon), reflecting the natural point-to-point coastal road rather than a certified 42.2km loop; organizers and race listings market and record it as the event's 'Marathon' distance. The race anchors the two-day Great Ocean Road Running Festival, which also includes a 60K Ultra, 23K Half Marathon, 14K Paradise Run, 12K Trail Run, 6K Run, 5K/10K walks and a 1.5K Kids' Gallop, drawing over 11,000 total participants across all distances. The Marathon field has sold out in recent editions.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Lorne SLSC / Mountjoy Parade (start)
Wye River
Kennett River
Cape Patton Lookout
Skenes Creek
Apollo Bay Hotel (finish)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Lorne to Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia
AU
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18 years on race day
Required Documents
- Photo ID
- International entrants must collect race bib in person at the Race Week Office
Entry Methods
- Online registration via official festival website
- Charity guaranteed-entry options once general entry sells out
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Optional Registration Protection add-on at checkout; see official Terms & Conditions for refund/deferral policy
Official course distance is approximately 44.6km per on-course drink-station markers (organizers and listings round this to 44km); it is roughly 2.4km longer than a standard 42.2km marathon due to the fixed point-to-point coastal road route.
60K Ecosa Ultra Marathon, 23K Brooks Half Marathon, 14K Paradise Run, 12K Trail Run, 6K Run, 5K/10K Great Ocean Road Walk, and 1.5K Kids' Gallop also run as part of the same festival weekend.
Course record: 2:27:37, set by Nick Earl in 2019.
Event founded in 2005; postponed in 2020 (COVID-19) and resumed in 2021.
Shuttle buses run race morning between Apollo Bay and the Lorne start line; a bus pass must be purchased during registration.
12 drink stations on course, with sports drink mix (Maurten 160) available from roughly the 15km mark onward.
Marathon, Half Marathon and Ultra Marathon fields have sold out in recent editions (2025/2026); early registration is recommended.
As of research date (July 2026), 2027 registration had not yet opened; the festival was directing prospective entrants to a newsletter waitlist.
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