PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONAU / RACE GUIDE

Wollongong Running Festival

Name: Wollongong Running Festival 2025 - Highlights
Uploaded: 2025-06-13
Description: Held every year on the first Sunday of June, this is the largest race in Wollongong, Australia. The next race is on June 6, 2027.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Wollongong
AU

Nikita Sergey · CC BY-SA 3.0JVPurvis · CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 235 days: Jun 6, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Wollongong · 21.1km · 10km · 5km +1 more events
Entry fee: A$115Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Oct 14, 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.

Held every year on the first Sunday of June, this is the largest race in Wollongong, Australia.

The next race is on June 6, 2027.

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.

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 2

Av8r96Ran in 2022 · Finish time 48:15

“Though I didn't hit my main goal, I was still very happy with a PR and what I though was a well run race.”

The runner aimed to break 48 minutes on familiar roads at the Wollongong Running Festival 10km. Early congestion and rough ground later on left the runner 15 seconds short, but a new personal best of 48 minutes 15 seconds brought satisfaction.

Read the original on Reddit r/running

Av8r96Ran in 2021 · Finish time 49:23

“Running with people that I know was a lot of fun. I loved sharing our different experiences and the encouragement we gave one another.”

The runner joined friends for the Wollongong Running Festival 10km, settling early nerves and maintaining a steady pace. Despite struggling on grass and hills, a hard final 300m brought a finish of 49 minutes 23 seconds and the sub-50-minute goal.

Read the original on Reddit r/running

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

McGrath Illawarra · 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.

Half

Entry cost A$115

until Nov 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost A$65

until Nov 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost A$45

until Nov 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform onlineentry.com.au

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 21.1km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:15

Event	Start
Half21.0975km	07:35
10K10km	07:15
5K5km	09:15

START · FINISH

Marine Drive, Wollongong

Start · Google Maps

Start and finish: Marine Drive, North Wollongong

One of the largest running events held in Wollongong, this race is known for its course linking the city centre and coastline along Marine Drive.

It starts and finishes at North Wollongong, with runners following sections beside the Illawarra coastline.

Half marathon is designed as a loop course completed twice.

The course allows spectators to see runners several times from course points, and the 21.1km course has approximately 150m of elevation gain.

Alternating cliffside terrain and panoramic beaches are defining features of this course.

With 5km, 10km, and half marathon races, plus a children's 2km Fun Run, it is well suited to families.

Part of the race proceeds is donated to local charities Lifeline Illawarra and the Mark Scott Trust.

Typical race-season temperature: around 10°C (51°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2026 edition

Bib pickup

6/4·6/5 12:00~17:00 Run Havoc (126 Crown St, Wollongong) · Lang Park bib tent in the early hours on race day

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNorth Wollongong railway station
Getting to the finishNorth Wollongong railway station (same precinct)

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

North Wollongong railway station

All distances start on Harbour Street, North Wollongong, within about a 10-minute walk of North Wollongong railway station. Per prior edition 2026 (Sun June 7, 2026).

Held annually on the first Sunday of June; per prior edition [2026] details used.

Map

Getting to the finish

North Wollongong railway station (same precinct)

All distances finish on Marine Drive, North Wollongong, at Lang Park — the same walkable precinct as the start, near North Wollongong station.

Map

Start shuttle

No dedicated festival shuttle; however, free local loop buses 55A and 55C run every ~20 minutes through the CBD and past the event precinct (general public transit, not race-specific).

Source · checked Aug 23, 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.

You can have bib shipped or collect it in person in advance from Run Havoc.

If you requested postal delivery, check that bib has arrived before setting out for the venue;

if you chose collection in person, include the store visit in your pre-race itinerary.

A separate bag-drop and post-race collection area will operate, while lost property can be collected from the information tent.

Pack your drop bag with collection from this area in mind, and keep valuables with you.

The official transport guidance recommends using public transport.

The Crown Street stop opposite the WIN Entertainment Centre and the St Mary’s School and former courthouse stops on Harbour Street are listed as nearby access points.

If you are driving, you can consider the car parks on Stewart Street and North Wollongong Beach, but parking near the venue is limited.

Water and aid are available near City Beach Surf Club, North Wollongong Surf Club and Fairy Meadow Surf Club.

Water and fruit are provided in the finish area.

Times are local to Wollongong. 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.

The Belmore Apartments Hotel

Hotel · 642m

8.6/10(1819)

View on Booking.com

Sydney Harbour Oz Jet Boat Experience

A$90

Wollongong Running Festival

About Wollongong Running Festival — 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