Port Fairy consistently tops lists of Australia's most liveable and beautiful small towns, and if you've ever visited you understand why immediately. The heritage bluestone buildings, the fishing fleet in the harbour, the sweeping beaches of Griffiths Island, and the extraordinary food scene make it the kind of town where weekends extend themselves effortlessly. The Port Fairy Marathon and Community Running Festival adds an excellent reason to visit in February, with a World Athletics certified course that threads through the town's most beautiful precincts.
Starting at Railway Place in the heart of Port Fairy, the certified course winds through the town's heritage streets, along the Moyne River, and out to the coastline before returning to the finish in the centre. The flat, mostly sealed terrain is genuinely PB-friendly, and the February date catches the town in full summer mode — warm but typically not oppressive, with sea breezes cooling the early morning start.
Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km, 5km, and a 1.5km run. The 2026 edition ran on 22 February with race packs available from Railway Place from Friday evening. Entry fees are tiered by registration date, so early registration saves money.
This is one of the great underrated weekend destinations in Victoria. The Caledonian Inn (Australia's oldest licensed hotel), Merrijig Kitchen, and a cluster of excellent restaurants make the post-race recovery scene exceptional. The Port Fairy Folk Festival (held in March) is the town's most famous event, but the marathon weekend has a warmth and community spirit that's hard to beat.
Port Fairy is about 290km west of Melbourne via the Princes Freeway (roughly 3 hours). Warrnambool (30 minutes east) is the nearest city with a train station; V/Line services run from Melbourne Southern Cross. Accommodation in Port Fairy books out quickly so plan well ahead for race weekend.
