Gold Coast Marathon 2023: Everything you need to know

The Gold Coast Marathon has attracted 24,000-plus entrants. Find out the road closures on Saturday and Sunday - plus the race start times.

Gold Coast Marathon organisers want a meeting with Mayor Tom Tate to expand it on the back of strong numbers, including big overseas interest, for this weekend’s races – and Mr Tate is open to it.

Events CEO Ben Mannion as the build up to the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon continues. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The multimillion-dollar marathon weekend is shaping up as a big economic boost for the city with the marquee 42km race sold-out for the second time in the event’s 43-year history.

More than 24,000 competitors from across Australia and the world will line up in the various divisions across the two days.

Events Queensland CEO Ben Mannion said the entries this weekend were some of the highest numbers the event had ever seen.

“We’ve got some unbelievable numbers coming through,” he said.

“We’ve had our main 42km event sold-out for the past couple of weeks and have just gone over 10,000 participants in our half marathon.”

“Numbers were a little low last year but now we’re back.”

Events CEO Ben Manson as the build up to the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon continuous. Picture: Glenn Campbell

On the back of those numbers and reports indicating more people had taken up distance running during and in the wake of the Covid pandemic, Mr Mannion said their was a possibility of expanding the course to increase capacity.

“There’s a really big surge for those full and half marathon numbers,” he said.

“So we’re hoping to talk to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and the Gold Coast City Council around expanding our course to accept more runners in the marathon.

“We’ve got competitors from 51 countries, 100,000 hotel room nights booked and a $30 million investment into the Gold Coast economy – we don’t see that a lot on the GC, so it’s such an important event for our city and for Queensland.”

Mr Tate said he was always open to improving the city’s major events and growing their success.

“If we have a capacity issue here, then I’m sure we can work with the Gold Coast Marathon management,” the Mayor said.

“I look forward to ongoing discussions to make sure this event maintains its success into the future.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Mr Mannion said out of 24,000 competitors, 1700 were from overseas.

“There’s nothing I can see in Queensland that brings that many participants from different countries together into the one location.”

Interstate visitors for the marathon weekend were also looking strong from New South Wales and Victoria in particular.

Interstate visitors for the marathon weekend were also looking strong from New South Wales and Victoria in particular.

Mr Mannion said with marathon weekend running in conjunction with Saturday’s bumper Suns and Collingwood AFL match at Heritage Bank Stadium, it was clear the Gold Coast was collectively driving towards a city of entertainment and experiences.

“The AFL have tapped into exactly where people are coming for the weekend,” he said.

”People coming to the Gold Coast can go to an AFL match and they can run a marathon – that’s fantastic and all part of the overall experience of our city.”

Race Start Times: Saturday July 1

ASICS Half Marathon: 6.15am

Health and Wellbeing Queensland 2km Junior Dash: 9.40am

Health and Wellbeing Queensland 4km Junior Dash: 9.55am

Gold Coast Airport 5km Fun Run: 10.25am

Race Start Times: Sunday July 2

Gold Coast Marathon: 6.15am

CPL Wheelchair Marathon: 6.10am

Southern Cross University 10km Run: 6.45am

CPL Wheelchair 10km: 6.40am

Road Closures: Saturday, July 1 *advised by GC Marathon

Paradise Point

The Esplanade: Elder Ave to Falkinder Ave 3:30am – 9am

Bayview Street: Falkinder Ave to Matthew Flinders Drive 3:30am – 9am

Hollywell

Bayview Street: Matthew Flinders Drive to Holly Ave 3:30am – 9am

Runaway Bay

Bayview Street: Holly Ave to Lae Drive 3:30am – 9am

Lae Drive: Bayview Street to Morala Ave 3:30am – 9am

Bayview Street: Lae Drive to Jennifer Ave 3:30am – 9:15am

Bayview Street: Jennifer Ave to Ocean Street 3:30am – 9:15am

Labrador

Brisbane Road: Turpin Road to Marine Parade (Eastbound lanes) 3:30am – 11am

Marine Parade: Brisbane Rd to Broad Street 3:30am – 9:30am

*Frank Street Changed traffic conditions (police monitoring exit, inbound)

Marine Parade: Broad Street to Frank Street 3:30am – 12:30pm

Central Street: Frank Street to Marine Pde 3:30am – 12:30pm

Southport

Marine Parade: Frank Street to North Street 3:30am – 12:30pm

North Street: High Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes) 3:30am – 12:30pm

Marine Parade: North Street to Ada Bell Way 3:30am – 12:30pm

*Road open but changed traffic conditions apply.

Road Closures: Saturday, July 1 ADVISED BY POLICE

Saturday July 1 3.30am to 11am - Full road closure of the following roads:

- The Esplanade from Eider Avenue to Falkinder Avenue, Paradise Point

- Bayview Street from Falkinder Ave at Paradise Point to Lands End Bridge, Anglers Paradise

- Lae Drive from Bayview Street to Morala Avenue, Runaway Bay

- Marine Parade from Lands End Bridge to Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

- Gold Coast Highway from Brisbane Road at Biggera Waters to Broad Street, Labrador

- Marine Parade from Broad Street to Loders Creek Bridge, Labrador

- Gold Coast Highway from Loders Creek Bridge at Labrador to Ada Bell Way, Southport

Road Closures: Sunday July 2

Runaway Bay

Bayview Street: Jennifer Ave to Ocean Street 3:30am – 12:45pm

Biggera Waters

Marine Parade: Ocean Street to Brisbane Road 3:30am – 12:45pm

Labrador

Brisbane Road: Turpin Road to Marine Parade (Eastbound lanes) 3:30am – 1:00pm

Marine Parade: Brisbane Road to Broad Street 3:30am – 1:00pm

Frank Street 3:30am – 1:00pm

Marine Parade: Broad Street to Robert Street 3:30am – 2:00pm

Southport

Marine Parade: Robert Street to North Street 3:30am – 2:00pm

North Street: High Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound lanes) 3:30am – 2:00pm

Marine Parade: North Street to Ada Bell Way 3:30am – 2:00pm

Queen Street: Scarborough Street to Gold Coast Hwy (Eastbound) 5:45am – 7:45am

Gold Coast Hwy: Ada Bell Way to Waterways Drive (Southbound Lanes) 3:30am – 11:30am

Sundale Bridge - FULL CLOSURE from 5.50am to 7.20am

Gold Coast Hwy: Ada Bell Way to Tedder Ave 5:45am – 7:45am

Main Beach

Waterways Drive: Gold Coast Hwy to MacArthur Parade 3:30am – 11:30am

Main Beach Parade: Waterways Drive to MacArt-hur Parade 3:30am – 11:30am

Main Beach Parade: MacArthur Parade to Ferny Ave 3:30am – 11:30am

Surfers Paradise

Esplanade: Ferny Ave to Clifford Street 3:30am – 11:30am

Northcliffe Terrace: Clifford Street to Fern Street 3:30am – 10:30am

Old Burleigh Road: Fern Street to First Ave 3:30am – 11:00am

Broadbeach

Broadbeach Blvd: First Ave to Queensland Ave 3:30am – 10:45am

Old Burleigh Rd: Queensland Ave to Alexandra 3:30am – 10:45am

Mermaid Beach

Hedges Ave: Alexandra Ave to Seashell Ave 3:30am – 10:30am

Albatross Ave: Seashell Ave to Chairlift Ave 3:30am – 10:00am

Miami

Marine Parade: Chairlift Ave to Hythe Street 3:30am – 10:00am

Hythe Street 3:30am – 10:00am

*Gold Coast Hwy: Hythe Street to Kratzmann 3:30am – 10:00am

Burleigh Heads

Kelly Ave 3:30am –10:00am

Kratzmann Ave 3:30am – 10:00am

The Esplanade: Kelly Ave to First Ave 3:30am – 10:00am

*Road open but changed traffic conditions apply.

Road Closures: Sunday, July 2 ADVISED BY POLICE

Full road closure of the Sundale Bridge, Southport from 5:50am to 7:20am as required under the direction of Police.

Partial road closure of the following Northern roads:

- Gold Coast Highway at Southport from Ada Bell Way including Sundale Bridge southbound to the intersection of Waterways Drive, Main Beach (Northbound lanes will be two way)

- Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach from Mermaid Avenue southbound to Seashell Avenue (southbound lanes only to be affected, they will be down to one lane)

- Bayview Street from Lae Drive to Madang Cres, Runaway Bay (Local traffic only)

Full road closure of the following roads:

NORTHERN

- Bayview Street from Madang Cres to Lands End Bridge, Anglers Paradise

- Lae Drive from Bayview Street to Morala Avenue, Runaway Bay

- Marine Parade from Lands End Bridge to Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

- Gold Coast Highway from Brisbane Road at Biggera Waters to Broad Street, Labrador

- Frank Street from Broad Street to Loders Creek Bridge, Labrador

- Marine Parade from Broad Street to Loders Creek Bridge, Labrador

- Gold Coast Highway from Loders Creek Bridge at Labrador to Ada Bell Way, Southport

CENTRAL

- Waterways Drive from Gold Coast Highway to Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

- Macarthur Parade from Seaworld Drive to Main Beach Parade, Main Beach

- Main Beach Parade from Macarthur Parade to The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

- The Esplanade from Main Beach Parade to Clifford Street, Surfers Paradise

- Northcliffe Terrace from Clifford Street to Thornton Street, Surfers Paradise

- Garfield Terrace from Thornton Street to Fern Street, Surfers Paradise

- Fern Street between Garfield Terrace, Surfers Paradise and Old Burleigh Road Surfers Paradise

- Old Burleigh Road from Fern Street to Armrick Avenue, Broadbeach

- Broadbeach Boulevard from Armrick Avenue to Queensland Avenue, Broadbeach

- Old Burleigh Road from Queensland Avenue to Alexandra Avenue, Broadbeach

- Hedges Avenue from Alexandra Avenue to Seashell Avenue, Mermaid Beach

SOUTHERN

- Albatross Avenue from Seashell Avenue to Chairlift Avenue, Nobby Beach

- Marine Parade from Chairlift Avenue to Hythe Street, Miami

- Hythe Street from Marine Parade to Gold Coast Highway, Miami

- Kelly Avenue from Gold Coast Highway to The Esplanade, Miami

- The Esplanade from Kelly Avenue to First Avenue, Miami

- Kratzmann Avenue from The Esplanade to Gold Coast Highway, Miami

- Partial road closure of the following Southern roads:

- Gold Coast Highway between Hythe Street and Kratzmann Avenue, Miami (Northbound lanes will be two way)

Police thank motorists for their patience during these disruptions.