Perth's northern coastal strip is some of the best urban running terrain in Australia — a continuous band of Indian Ocean beaches, coastal heathland, and ocean paths that stretches from Cottesloe to Two Rocks. The WA Coastal Running Festival makes the most of it, bringing a World Athletics certified event to Whitfords Nodes park that gives runners access to the spectacular Whitfords coastal reserve and the Indian Ocean foreshore.
Based at Whitfords Nodes, the course follows the coastal path and surrounding streets through the Whitfords beach precinct in Perth's northern suburbs. The Indian Ocean is visible throughout, the terrain is flat, and the March timing catches Perth at the tail end of summer — warm mornings, ocean breezes, and the long daylight hours of the season still in effect. Courses are World Athletics certified.
Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km, and 5km. The event is part of the broader WA Coastal Running Festival series, which runs at multiple coastal locations around Perth throughout the year. Registrations are through Humanitix.
Whitfords, Hillarys, Sorrento, and Mullaloo are among Perth's finest northern beaches — crystal-clear Indian Ocean water, white sand, and the kind of conditions that make early morning runs genuinely enjoyable. The Hillarys Boat Harbour is a short drive from Whitfords Nodes and has excellent cafes for post-run recovery.
Whitfords is about 22km north of Perth CBD. The Joondalup train line stops at Whitford Station, roughly 15 minutes walk from Whitfords Nodes. By car, take the Mitchell Freeway north and exit at Whitfords Avenue. Good parking is available around the park.
