Hobart is one of Australia's best-kept secrets — a compact, beautiful city where world-class food and art meet rugged wilderness at the edge of the world. The Hobart Airport Marathon Festival, held every April on the banks of the Derwent River, lets you experience the city at its finest: Constitution Dock, the historic Salamanca waterfront, and the kind of Tasmanian autumn morning that makes you understand why people move here. If you've been looking for an excuse to visit Hobart, this is it.
The 2026 Hobart Airport Marathon Festival starts at PW1 Castray Esplanade right on Constitution Dock — the famous finishing point of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. The two-lap course follows the stunning Derwent River waterfront and traverses the historic Salamanca Wharves, with sandstone buildings, mountain views, and the glittering estuary making this one of the most scenic urban marathon courses in Australia. The course is predominantly flat and ideal for fast running, though the Tasmanian autumn air can be brisk in the early morning hours.
Five distances are available across the 2026 Hobart Airport Marathon Festival: the full Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km, 5km, and a 2km fun run. Whether you're a marathon veteran or taking a first step into road running, there's a distance and a pace group to suit. Pacers are provided for the half marathon at times from 1:24 to 2:10.
Hobart has quietly become one of the most exciting food, culture, and outdoor destinations in Australia. MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art) alone justifies the flight, but add in the Salamanca Markets, the incredible seafood, the whisky distilleries, and the easy access to Mt Wellington and you've got a race weekend itinerary that sells itself. Fly in on Friday, explore on Saturday, race on Sunday, and spend Monday eating your way around the waterfront.
Hobart Airport receives regular direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The city is compact and easy to navigate, with the race precinct right on the waterfront and accommodation options ranging from boutique hotels to airbnbs throughout the CBD and Sandy Bay.
