Margaret River is famous for wine, surf, and sublime food. It's somewhat less famous for being the venue for one of the best trail running events in Western Australia — but the secret is very much out now. The Margaret River Ultra Marathon, run each May by Rapid Ascent, sends runners through the towering karri forests, coastal cliff tracks, and farm country of the South West on a course that's challenging enough to feel like a genuine achievement and beautiful enough to make you forget you're suffering.
The 80km solo course starts at Hamelin Bay on the Cape to Cape coastal trail and finishes at Howard Park Winery — a journey through some of the most spectacular forest and coastal scenery in Australia. The route follows sections of the Cape to Cape Track, which hugs the Indian Ocean coast on cliff-top trails before heading inland through karri and jarrah forest. The 42km Trail Marathon starts at Yallingup Beach and covers the northern half of the same route. Both courses have significant elevation gain and technical trail sections, so this is not a beginner event — but for experienced trail runners, it's a bucket-list experience.
The 80km course can be run as a team relay of up to 5 runners, each completing one or more legs. The relay format sold out within minutes of entries opening for 2026, which tells you everything you need to know about how popular the team option is. If you're planning this as a group activity, set a calendar reminder for the day entries open next year.
The finish at Howard Park Winery is not an accident. Margaret River's wineries, breweries, and restaurants are among the best in Australia, and the post-race recovery options in the region are extraordinary. A glass of something excellent from Howard Park's cellar door while your legs decide whether they're still attached is one of the great ultra-running finishes on the Australian calendar.
Margaret River is roughly 3 hours south of Perth by car. Busselton Airport (about 30 minutes north of Margaret River) has limited connections from Perth, but most runners drive or rent a car. The town of Margaret River has excellent accommodation, from backpacker hostels to luxury eco-lodges, and the surrounding wine region offers pastoral alternatives that make a race weekend feel like a proper mini-break.
