Great Ocean Road Running Festival

Apollo Bay, Australia • 16-17 May 2026

Great Ocean Road Running Festival

The Great Ocean Road Running Festival is a multi-day running event held along the Southern Ocean coastline in Victoria, Australia. The festival is presented by Melrose and is described as an IMG event. The organisers acknowledge the Gadubanud people who cared for this country for thousands of years and pay respect to their history and elders.

The festival offers a range of distances and formats, including road races, trail runs and walks. Events are staged across towns and coastal areas including Apollo Bay, Lorne and Kennett River. The program combines sporting events with festival activities such as glamping, yoga, live music and kite flying.

Distances on offer include:

  • 60 km Ecosa Ultra Marathon
  • 44 km Melrose Great Ocean Road Marathon
  • 23 km Brooks Half Marathon
  • 14 km Paradise Run
  • 12 km Trail Run
  • 6 km Srilankan Airlines 6km Run
  • 5 km and 10 km Great Ocean Road Walks
  • 1.5 km Kids' Gallop

Course descriptions note a mix of road and trail surfaces and running along sections of the Great Ocean Road with coastal scenery and limited vehicle traffic during event operations. Wildlife is commonly observed near the route, for example kangaroos at Anglesea golf course and koalas in gum trees along the road. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

60 km
Ecosa Ultra Marathon (60km)
44 km
Melrose Great Ocean Road Marathon (44km)
23 km
Brooks Half Marathon (23km)
14 km
14km Paradise Run
12 km
12km Trail Run
10 km
10km Great Ocean Road Walk
6 km
6km Run
5 km
5km Great Ocean Road Walk
1.5km Kids' Gallop
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

A community trail event on the Old Beechy Rail Trail in the Otways offering 16 km and 6.3 km options, finishing at Gellibrand Hall. Proceeds support the Colac Area Health Foundation and Rotary programs.

Two day Kangaroobie Base Camp Ultra Relay near Princetown, Victoria, sends teams of four plus across over 216 km of farmland and bush with the Southern Ocean and 12 Apostles as backdrop. Expect looped legs from base camp and graveyard shift..

Join the 11th Run Forrest Trail Run in the Otways. Choose from 21km, 10km, or 6km distances on forest trails near the Barwon River. The event features a central race village and a mandatory briefing for all runners.

Trail races from 6 km to 75 km start at Cumberland River Holiday Park near Lorne, on mountain single trails that visit up to six waterfalls. The first 2 km include three river crossings with depths varying by recent rainfall.