Orange is one of the great regional cities of NSW — a city that punches well above its weight on food, wine, culture, and liveability. It's known for its apple orchards, its cool-climate wines, and now increasingly for the Orange Running Festival, a World Athletics certified event held at Gosling Creek Reserve on a scenic, sealed, gently undulating course that is genuinely lovely to run.
Starting at Gosling Creek Reserve on Forest Road, the marathon, half marathon, 10km, and 5km all use the same certified loop course through the reserve and surrounding sealed roads. The terrain is gently undulating — true to the Central Tablelands landscape — and the March timing hits a sweet spot: autumn is beginning in the ranges, temperatures are cooling from summer, and the orange orchards around the city are coming into their second wind.
One of the Orange Running Festival's most distinctive features is its 11am start time — a deliberate choice that makes travel from Sydney (about 3.5 hours) genuinely feasible on race morning. No 4am wake-up alarms required. This is a refreshingly runner-friendly logistical decision that more events should consider.
Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km, and 5km. School Mile events (Primary K–6 and Secondary 7–12) and an Orange Community Mile add to the festival atmosphere. For registration enquiries contact info@orangerunningfestival.com.au.
Orange is roughly 3.5 hours from Sydney via the Great Western Highway through Lithgow and Bathurst, or about 2.5 hours via the M7/Bells Line of Road. Orange Airport has limited connections from Sydney. The city has excellent accommodation and its restaurant and wine bar scene is one of the best in regional NSW.
