Lakes Entrance Running Festival
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Race day: Saturday, 31 October 2026
Where
Lakes Entrance Foreshore, Lakes Entrance, VIC
About This Event
A two-day coastal running festival on the Lakes Entrance foreshore in East Gippsland, where the Gippsland Lakes meet the ocean. A twilight 5km and 2km on Saturday; marathon, half marathon and 10km on Sunday morning, with a finish-line festival.
Events & entry fees
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Saturday 31 October
-
5km4pm$55
-
2km Fun Run5pm$25
Sunday 1 November
-
Marathon6:30am$160
-
Half Marathon7:30am$130
-
10km9am$90
Entry fees as listed on 28 Oct 2026. Prices often rise after early bird, so check the entry page for today's price.
Quick Facts
- Date
- 31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026
- Terrain
- Road (coastal)
- Location
- Lakes Entrance Foreshore, VIC
- Entry Fee
- Check official website
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Start Time
- 6:30 AM (first wave — see schedule)
- Good for Beginners
- Yes – includes a 2km fun run and 5km options
A new race on the Gippsland Lakes
- edition, in 2026
- 1st
- distances, 2km to marathon
- 5
- marathon elevation gain
- 180m
- marathon aid stations
- 11
2026 is the first Lakes Entrance Running Festival. It was announced in December 2025 as a new two-day spring event for the East Gippsland town: a marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km and a 2km family run, with entrants expected from across Victoria and interstate.
It is run by Fit City Events, the team behind the Inverloch, Shepparton and Vineyards Twilight running festivals. Every race starts on the far side of the Cunninghame Arm Footbridge and finishes on the Lakes Entrance foreshore.
The weekend opens with a free, easy 3km shake-out with the Bullock Island Running Club on Friday night. The 5km and 2km run on Saturday afternoon, and the marathon, half and 10km on Sunday morning, with live music, food trucks and a pop-up brewery at the finish.
- 2025The festival is launched in December as a new two-day spring event for Lakes Entrance.
- 2026First race weekend: 5km and 2km on Saturday 31 October, marathon, half and 10km on Sunday 1 November.
Event Details
Course Description
The course runs along the Lakes Entrance foreshore and waterfront on concrete shared path and sealed road, with about 1km of compact gravel on the half marathon lap, and views of the lakes, the ocean and bushland. It is gently undulating: about 90m of climbing on the half and 180m on the two-lap marathon, while the 10km and 5km are almost flat. Saturday afternoon holds the shorter, family-friendly 5km and 2km; the marathon, half and 10km go out early on Sunday to a finish-line festival with live bands, food trucks and a pop-up brewery.
Course guide, section by section
- Start - Cunninghame Arm Footbridge
All five races start on the far side of the footbridge over Cunninghame Arm, so cross it before your start. Allow around ten minutes to walk there from the village.
- Half marathon lap
One lap of concrete path and bitumen road with about 1km of compact gravel, past the lakes, the ocean and bushland. Gentle undulations add up to about 90m of climbing, with aid stations roughly every 4km and a 4-hour cut-off.
- Marathon - two laps
The marathon runs the half marathon lap twice: about 180m of climbing and 2km of gravel in total. There are 11 aid stations, at 3, 7, 11, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 33, 36 and 39km, and a 7-hour cut-off. Minimum age is 16.
- 10km, 5km and 2km
The shorter courses are all on concrete path: 14m of climbing on the 10km and 7m on the 5km. The 5km and 2km have no aid stations and are the only races where prams are allowed.
- Finish and race weekend
Every race finishes on the Lakes Entrance foreshore, and every finisher gets a medal. Bib collection is at the foreshore on Saturday 1-6pm and from 5:15am on Sunday. Kalimna Jetty Road is closed; park along the Princes Highway and side streets.
In their words
Lakes Entrance is the perfect place to run - where the sea breeze meets the sunrise.
It will bring visitors into the region, support local businesses and showcase the beautiful environment we're proud of here in East Gippsland.
Getting There
Lakes Entrance is on the Princes Highway in East Gippsland, about 3.5 hours east of Melbourne and 1 hour from Bairnsdale. The event is based on the foreshore in the centre of town; use the public car parks along the Esplanade and check the event's travel page for race-morning road closures.
Where to Stay
Places to stay near the start, priced for race weekend.
We may earn a small referral fee if you book through this map — you pay the same price.
Weather & What to Pack
Late October and early November on the Gippsland coast is mild spring - typically 10-22C - with a sea breeze that usually builds through the day. The Saturday twilight races are run in the cool of the afternoon; the Sunday marathon starts at 6:30am to beat the warmth and the wind.
Race details last updated 28 Oct 2026
Ready to run Lakes Entrance Running Festival?
Register NowWe may earn a small referral fee if you enter via this link — you pay the same price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which races are on which day?
Saturday 31 October: 5km at 4:00pm and 2km at 5:00pm. Sunday 1 November: marathon at 6:30am, half marathon at 7:30am and 10km at 9:00am.
Where do the races start?
Every race starts on the far side of the Cunninghame Arm Footbridge and finishes on the Lakes Entrance foreshore. Allow about ten minutes to walk to the start from the village.
What is the course like?
Coastal and gently undulating. The half marathon lap is concrete path and bitumen with about 1km of compact gravel and 90m of climbing; the marathon runs it twice. The 10km, 5km and 2km are all on concrete path.
When is bib collection?
At the Lakes Entrance foreshore on Saturday 31 October from 1:00 to 6:00pm, and on Sunday 1 November from 5:15am until 30 minutes before your race.
Where do I park?
Kalimna Jetty Road is closed for the event. Park legally along the Princes Highway and side streets.
How much does it cost?
Current (Bronze) prices are $160 for the marathon, $130 for the half, $90 for the 10km, $55 for the 5km and $25 for the 2km. Check the official site for the latest.
parkruns near this race
Free, timed 5km every Saturday morning. A good hit-out between races.
- Lakes Entrance parkrun Sat 8:00am · 0.0 km away · Lakes Entrance
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