pacertrip.

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONAU / RACE GUIDE

Sunshine Coast Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Sunshine Coast Regional
AU

Kgbo · CC BY-SA 4.0Coconutpotato, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commonszpunout, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Race date in 298 days: Aug 1, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Sunshine Coast Regional · 21.1km
Entry fee: A$160Varies by event and entry period
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗

Instagram

D-day as of Oct 7, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The half-marathon (21.1 km) event at the Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival.

It starts at the Alexandra Headland Surf Club in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

#SunshineCoastHalfMarathon#SunshineCoastRegional#Overseas Marathon#August Marathon#Half marathon

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3

Nat RussellRan in 2025 · Finish time 1:58:27

“I did it! 1:58:27, 5th in my age group out of 29 women.”

Nat Russell ran the 2025 Sunshine Coast half marathon as planned in cold weather, finishing in 1 hour 58 minutes 27 seconds. Nat placed 5th in the age group among 29 women and said that Nat was satisfied with the result.

Read the original on SSG Multisports

Stuart WattRan in 2025

“I managed it - with just over a minute to spare - but it was a slog.”

The writer ran the 2025 Sunshine Coast half marathon as a training race for the Sydney Marathon. They achieved their sub-2-hour goal but recalled that road running was demanding.

Read the original on Trail Runner Australia

Shires TriersFinish time 2:02:54

“I felt strong for the first 15k, but from there, it turned into a bit of a slog.”

While visiting his parents, the author entered the Sunshine Coast half marathon, ran strongly to 15 km before struggling, and finished in 2:02:54.

Read the original on Shires Triers

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

Team Ellis Running · Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

General entry

EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival half marathon category.

MyRaceHub online registration, no drawings.

4 price tiers.

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 21.1km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

START · FINISH

In front of Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club

shared start and finish for all events

Start · Google Maps

Original course map · sunshinecoastmarathon.com.au

The half marathon starts at 7:15 am from the start line on Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland, on the Sunshine Coast.

The finish is at the same location, so you can check the start and finish routes in one place.

The course includes a checkpoint at Benning Street and the Mooloolaba Esplanade at the 5.5km mark, which you must pass by 8:14 am.

The overall time limit is 3 hours 50 minutes from the start.

This event is the half marathon event of the Sunshine Coast Marathon and Community Run Festival,

held on the same day as the full marathon and the 10km, 5km and 2km runs.

The event was first held in 2012 and takes place locally every August.

Half marathon participants can register from age 14, with Wheelchair Division and age-group categories from 17–24 through 100 and over.

AIMS Certified: Member race of the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races)
Typical race-season temperature: around 18°C (64°F): Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Bag drop

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Stations & transport near the venue

Just tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard (or phone wallet) on the TransLink reader when boarding Sunshine Coast buses — fare is only 50c per trip either way.

Getting to the start

Same start as the full Sunshine Coast Marathon: Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland.

Same TransLink Route 600 stop caveat applies.

Getting to the finish

Same finish as the marathon, Alexandra Parade -- roads closed until 13:30.

More details

Same event weekend/venue as the Sunshine Coast Marathon -- the same shuttle/road-closure details apply.

More details

Shares the marathon's Park 'N' Ride shuttle network (Kuluin, Buderim, Maroochydore, Kawana, Sippy Downs).

IC card

go card

Buy/top up at retailers, major bus interchanges, train stations, online, or by phone (13 12 30)

Works directly at the gates

Alternative: go explore card $1.50/day —

Worth it if making 3+ trips in a single day (each go card/contactless tap is already only 50c, so the go explore pass only pays off with heavier same-day travel) —

best for a race weekend with lots of running-around.

More details

Excludes some hinterland-only routes, which may be cash-only.

Otherwise flat 50c fares apply system-wide under Queensland's 50-cent fare scheme.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Half marathon participants should plan to arrive by 6:15 am at Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland, the start and finish location.

The start time is 7:15 am, and the cut-off for passing the 5.5km mark at Benning Street and the Mooloolaba Esplanade is 8:14 am.

The finish cut-off is 11:05 am.

The Entry fee includes a bib, a timing tag and a finisher medal, while event T-shirts are provided while stocks last.

To have your name printed on the bib, you must register by June 21, 2027.

Participants must be at least 14 years old, and overall finish rankings and age-group categories operate without gender divisions.

Check the Packet Pickup location and travel from your accommodation separately, and allow plenty of time to reach the start.

Times are local to Sunshine Coast Regional. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Grand Palais Beachside Resort

Hotel · 772m

8.4/10(1121)

View on Booking.com

Alex Beachfront Apartment

Accommodation · 1.1km

9.0/10(24)

View on Booking.com

Oaks Sunshine Coast Seaforth Resort

Aparthotel · 1.1km

8.8/10(2029)

View on Booking.com

2 Bedroom Ocean View - Alexandria Apartments -Alexandra Headland

Accommodation · 962m

8.6/10(72)

View on Booking.com

Ocean Boulevard

Accommodation · 841m

8.2/10(312)

View on Booking.com

Breakfree Alexandra Beach

Aparthotel · 706m

8.1/10(1123)

View on Booking.com

MARJ12- Stylish and Spacious

Accommodation · 1.1km

7.5/10(18)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

42 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

SIT-DOWN TOURS7CARB LOADING6LOCAL TRANSIT3FAMILY PASS7TRAIL & OUTDOOR7CITY TOURS7EASY WALKING5

Maroochy River Boat Rental

A$107

Sunshine Coast Half Marathon

About Sunshine Coast Half Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run