Course Map
About this Race
The Gold Coast Marathon is one of Australia's fastest courses, a flat, fast route along the sunny Queensland coastline and its famous beaches on smooth, level roads. The forgiving profile and the mild winter staging make it a premier personal-best destination in the southern hemisphere. Held in July, it offers cool, pleasant conditions ideal for hard racing. The beachfront setting and big crowds define the day. It suits the PB chaser who wants a genuinely fast, scenic coastal race in a reliable cool-weather window.
Course Insight
Gold Coast is a flat, fast July marathon along the Queensland coast, run in ideal mild winter conditions that have made it a personal-best magnet. The total flatness means your own restraint is the only governor early on. Cool, dry winter air is perfect for racing. The oceanfront setting is scenic. Hold back early and the flat course hands you a quick time.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to very flat.
Course Details
- Course type
- Out-And-Back
- Elevation gain
- 93m
- Elevation loss
- 66m
- Highest point
- 18m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net elevation
- +27m
- Start
- Broadwater Parklands, Southport
- Cutoff time
- 6h 40m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:06:20 — Haftu Strintzos (Australia), 2026
- Women's
- 2:24:22 — Yuki Nakamura (Japan), 2024
Race History
The Gold Coast Marathon was first held in 1979 and is one of Australia's fastest courses, a flat, fast route along the sunny Queensland coastline and its famous beaches. Its forgiving profile and mild winter staging made it a premier southern-hemisphere personal-best destination. From its founding it grew into a major Australian event. Held each July, it draws a large field to the beachfront.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Gold Coast (OOL), Brisbane (BNE)
- Best area to stay
- Surfers Paradise for proximity to the beachfront route and full hotels, Broadbeach for upscale beachside stays, and Main Beach for quieter coastal options.
- Getting to the start
- The start is at Southport Broadwater Parklands; take the G:link tram to Broadwater Parklands and walk to the start.