Winter in the Top End is the stuff of runners' dreams: warm, dry, blue-sky mornings while the rest of the country shivers. The Darwin Runners & Walkers Half Marathon makes the most of it, bringing the local running community together on 12 July 2026 for a friendly, scenic 21.1km along one of Darwin's best stretches of coast.
The half marathon is a four-lap course starting and finishing at the Lake Alexander car park in East Point Reserve, a flat, shady foreshore loop that's as good for first-timers as it is for those chasing a time. With multiple laps, there's plenty of support and you're never far from the finish.
Not ready to take on the full 21.1km yourself? Grab a few mates and enter as a team relay of two to four, a brilliant way to share the distance and the fun. It's one of the friendliest events on the NT calendar, run by the volunteer-led Darwin Runners & Walkers club.
July is peak season in the Territory: mild mornings, no humidity to speak of, and a sunrise over the Arafura Sea that's worth the early alarm. Pair the run with a long weekend exploring Darwin's markets, waterfront and nearby national parks for a proper running getaway.
Register through the Darwin Runners & Walkers club, head to their website for entry details and start times. East Point Reserve is a short drive from Darwin's CBD, with parking at Lake Alexander.
