Rottnest Running Festival

Get ready to experience an electrifying extravaganza at the 30th Rottnest Running Festival! Presented by the West Australian Marathon Club Inc., this sensational community affair is geared towards igniting your passion for distance running while contributing to a great cause - the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Mark your calendars for the 30th RunFun Travel Rottnest Marathon, an epic journey accompanied by the riveting 21.1km, 10km, and 5km fun runs. Organized by the West Australian Marathon Club, this event isn't just about the thrill of the run, but also about making a meaningful impact with the event proceeds supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The inaugural Rottnest Marathon was run in October 1994. In that year 72 runners completed the marathon with Ray Brown winning the men’s race in a time of 2:35:50 and visiting New Zealand runner Nyla Carroll took the women’s title in 2:52:20. In 2023 the women's record was broken by the incredible Kate Baker who was the overall winner of the marathon and set the new women's record at 2:47:53! The current course record for men is 02:28:57 set by Gerard Hill in 2019. The previous mens course record was 2:29:24, set in 1998 by Todd Ingraham.

The heart-pounding RunFun Travel Rottnest Marathon commences with the soul-stirring sound of bagpipes at 6:55 am on Sunday morning, setting the stage for an adrenaline-packed experience. The distinctive bagpipe music echoes through the course, especially at Armstrong Hill, infusing tradition into the event. Expect over 300 avid runners to conquer the challenging four-lap marathon course, starting and finishing right at the entrance to Rottnest Island, adjacent to the Main Jetty.

As the sun rises higher, the excitement continues with the SeaLink Half Marathon at 8:30 am. By this time, the marathon runners will be making strides into their first lap, while around 700 participants will join the half marathon, following the same route but covering it twice, adding to the energy and enthusiasm.

At 10:20 am and 10:30 am, the action escalates with the Rottnest Island Authority 10K Run and the Rottnest Bakery 5K Run. With the marathon runners on their final laps, expect around 1000 runners and walkers to embark on these events, tracing the same route as the marathon course, and creating a thrilling crescendo to the day.The 30th Rottnest Running Festival promises an extraordinary blend of history, camaraderie, and the exhilaration of running against the stunning backdrop of Rottnest Island. Don't miss out on this incredible celebration of sport, community, and giving back!

Rottnest Island covers 19 square kilometres and can be reached via a 30 minute ferry ride from the mainland. There is a permanent population of around 200, with approximately 500,000 visitors annually. The coastal area is covered with white sand beaches and secluded coves. The island is a protected nature reseve and home to the quokka - a small, wallaby like marsupial, said to be "the happiest animal in the world.'