There's a town in Tasmania called Penguin. It has a giant penguin statue on the main street, a fiberglass penguin at the entrance to the playground, and penguin-shaped bins dotted around the centre. It is, objectively, wonderful. And since 2010 it has also hosted a marathon and half marathon along Tasmania's spectacular north-west coast that is becoming one of the more quietly revered running events on the Australian calendar.
The course runs along Penguin Road, hugging the Bass Strait coastline past the iconic Three Sisters rock formations and through Preservation Bay, with historic Goat Island visible offshore. The scenery is genuinely exceptional — the rugged Tasmanian coastline with the Southern Ocean on one side and the Dial Range on the other makes for a backdrop that few Australian events can match. The course is World Athletics certified and has been described by runners as one of the most beautiful marathon routes in the country.
Marathon (42.2km) and Half Marathon (21.1km). The 2026 festival runs across the weekend of 4–6 September. The event is run by the Penguin Country Club with support from local businesses including Buttons Brewing, and the community involvement gives it an atmosphere that bigger city events simply can't replicate.
Tasmania is one of the world's great running destinations — clean air, dramatic scenery, and a food and wine culture that makes recovery genuinely enjoyable. The north-west coast is less visited than Hobart and the Huon Valley, which means you get the scenery without the crowds. Penguin is about an hour's drive from Devonport Airport, which receives regular Spirit of Tasmania ferry services from Melbourne.
Fly into Devonport Airport (connections from Melbourne and Sydney) or take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne to Devonport. Penguin is 30 minutes west of Devonport. Accommodation in Penguin and nearby Burnie is limited, so book early once your entry is confirmed.
