WELCOME TO MELBOURNE
As the Official Travel Partner and sponsor for the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival, Travelling Fit is offering guaranteed race entry into the Marathon and secured rooms at one of our preferred hotels, Mantra on Jolimont, the Pullman on the Park, the Quest East Melbourne, the Quest Jolimont and the Rydges Melbourne, all conveniently located just a short walk to the Melbourne Cricket Ground – the race precinct for all the events during the Melbourne Marathon Festival.
If you have already secured a guaranteed race entry, you are more than welcome to book one of our supporter packages which excludes the race entry but offers you accommodation.
- Packages Include
- Guaranteed Race Entry (runners only)
- 2 Nights’ Accommodation
Check in: Sat 10 October 2026
Check out: Mon 12 October 2026 - Breakfast included at Rydges and the Pullman on the Park only
- Daily housekeeping refresh (depending on the property chosen)
PACKAGE PRICES
The Course
Start at Batman Avenue.
Head north along Batman Avenue; left into Flinders Street, left into Swanston Street, cross to northbound (west side) service lane at Princes Bridge and then head along St Kilda Road.
At St Kilda Junction, runners turn right into Fitzroy Street then right into Lakeside Drive and do a lap anti-clockwise circuit of the Lake.
This Lake loop requires runners to turn left into Albert Road Drive from Lakeside Drive and left into Aughtie Drive continuing around the Albert Park Lake roadway.
At the Carousel car park runners proceed behind and around Pits Building using Aughtie Walk before U-turning in Aughtie Drive past Turn 1
Proceed along Aughtie Dve to a right hand turn into Village Green Rd and right onto Lakeside Drive and right on to Fitzroy St.
Make a right hand turn at Acland St extension into the city bound lanes of Beaconsfield Parade, proceed north to a U-turn just before Bay St heading south back along Beaconsfield Pde toward St Kilda.
At the Beaconsfield Parade intersection with Jacka Boulevard, runners will veer right and head towards Elwood using Jacka Boulevard, Marine Parade and Ormond Esplanade to a U-Turn near St Kilda St. Runners then return north along Ormond Esplanade, Marine Parade, Jacka Blvd in to a right hand turn into extension of Acland St, followed by a left hand turn into Fitzroy St.
Turn left into the St Kilda Road northbound service lanes and continue to left hand turn into Southbank Blvd, right hand turn into Sturt St and proceed (under the St Kilda Rd) along Alexandra Ave to a right hand turn into Linlithgow Ave.
Proceed along Linlithgow Ave to Birdwood Ave to right hand turn into Domain Rd.
Take a right hand turn up Dallas Brooks drive, left onto Birdwood Ave, veer left onto Government House drive and then right onto St Kilda Road.
Proceed along St Kilda Rd to a right hand turn into Flinders St.
Veer right into Wellington Parade South, turn right into Brunton Ave then left into the MCG via Gate C and do one lap of the MCG to the finish line.
Note: : Course is subject to change.
Testimonials
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- Melbourne Marathon 2023
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- Melbourne Marathon 2023
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- Melbourne Marathon 2023
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- Melbourne Marathon 2023
Race Information
Entry Fees
Melbourne Marathon Entry Costs – Entries Fees are included.
Qualifying Times
There are no qualifying times for the Marathon.
However, once you have successfully entered, you can apply for a Preferred Start, which is a starting position immediately behind the Elite field. To be granted a preferred start you must have achieved certain qualifying times for your event since 01 January 2025.
| OPEN | OVER 40 | OVER 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MALE | Sub 2:45 | Sub 2:55 | Sub 3:05 |
| FEMALE | Sub 3:10 | Sub 3:20 | Sub 3:30 |
Applications for Preferred Starts must be made via the website and should include details of the races (i.e. race name, date and distance) at which qualifying performances have been achieved.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications are checked to guarantee times submitted are valid.
2026 applications will open at a later date.
Please note: Applying for a Preferred Start is a separate process to the online race entry system. You must have a race registration in order to apply for a Preferred Start.
Start Time
The Melbourne Marathon Festival – Full Marathon will commence at 6:30am.
CUT-OFF TIMES
The finish line will remain open until 1:30pm for all events (7:00 hour cut-off).
- St Kilda Rd Junction Rd- 11.00am
- Left Hand Turn into Southbank Blvd 10.30am
- Fed Square (40km) – 11.15am
- The northbound service lanes on St Kilda Rd will remain open to competitors until 10.30am.
- The southbound service lanes on St Kilda Rd will remain open to competitors until 11.15am.
All competitors that cannot run at a sub-5hr marathon pace should make themselves familiar with the alternate route for slow marathoners and obey instructions from marshals on the day.
Race Timing
Your Timing Chip can be found on the back of your race bib (excluding 3km competitors) that will be in your Race Pack with your Competitor Information Booklet. The Timing Chip will appear on the top half of the bib and will look like a label and must remain intact.
Do not remove or tamper with the Chip as this will result in NO TIMES being recorded of your effort.
Race Packets
Details to be confirmed
If you register before 11:59pm Thursday 02 July and select and pay for postage ($5.50), your personalised race bib will be sent to you at the address provided.
If you register from 12:00am Friday 03 July or do not pay for postage, you will be required to collect your race bib from the Race Week Office.
Your race pack will include:
- Race Information Booklet
- Race bib with attached timing chip
- Safety pins
Please note show bags (including T-shirt for Marathon competitors) are to be collected from the MCG.
Pace Setters
The 2026 Melbourne Marathon will once again be providing Pace Group Leaders.
There will be pacers for the following expected finishing times (hours and minutes):
2:50
3:00, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50
4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45
5:00, 5:30
Aid Stations
The sports drink provided on course will be Gatorade.
Marathon competitors who wish to have their own refreshments available to collect from designated Drink Stations on course during Race Day.
| LOCATION | Km | Supplied | Medical | Toilets |
| #1 – St Kilda Rd / Arthur St | 3 | Water ONLY | Yes | Yes |
| #2 – Lakeside Dve | 6 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| #3 – Pits Building (Albert Park) | 11.2 | Water + Electrolyte Drink + Maurten Gels + Personal Drinks | Yes | Yes |
| #4 – Mills St/ B’Field Pde | 17 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| #4 – Mills St/ B’Field Pde | 19.4 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| #5 – Point Ormond/Marine Pde & Glenhuntly Rd | 24.2 | Water + Electrolyte Drink + Personal Drinks | Yes | Yes |
| #5 – Point Ormond/Marine Pde & Glenhuntly Rd | 27.3 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| #2a – Jacka Blvd | 29.5 | Water + Electrolyte Drink + Maurten Gels | Yes | No |
| #1 – St Kilda Rd /Arthur St | 34.1 | Water ONLY | Yes | Yes |
| #6 – Birdwood Ave/Govt House Dve | 36.5 | Water + Electrolyte Drink + Personal Drinks | Yes | Yes |
| #7 – St Kilda Rd / Linlithgow | 39.8 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| #8 – Wellington St Sth | 41 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
| Finish | 42.195 | Water + Electrolyte Drink | Yes | Yes |
Drink station locations subject to change*
Personal Refreshments and Clothing
The Drop off location for personal refreshments is at the MCG outside Gate 2 near Cricket Nets
- Drop Off Date: Saturday 10 October
- Drop Off Location: Outside Gate 2 – Near Cricket Nets
- Drop Off Times: 8:00am – 2:00pm ONLY
- Personal Drink Station Locations: 11.2km 24.5km 37km
Guidelines for personal refreshments are as follows:
- Drink containers are not to be any taller than 21cm in total including all attachments
- Special Drinks Drop off will close at 2.00pm
- No Balloons/Sticks are to be attached
- Your race number must be clearly shown on the bottle container
- It is your responsibility to find your own bottle at the Personal Drinks Station
- You must not drop your bottle on course it must be dropped in the Event Waste Zone
- The Personal Drinks service is available to competitors in the full marathon only1
TRANSPORT
All our hotels are within easy walking distance to the MGC race precinct
Expo
| Expo Dates | Expo Hours |
| Thursday 08 October | 8:00am – 6:00pm |
| Friday 09 October | 8:00am – 6:00pm |
| Saturday 10 October | 8:00am – 3:00pm |
| Sunday 11 October | 7:30am – 2:00pm |
Finishers T-Shirts, Medals and Certificates
Weather Conditions
The average temperature range for Melbourne in October is 14 to 24 degrees Celsius (57 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit)
Other Events
- Half Marathon
- 10km Run
- 5km Run
- 2.5km Walk
