Ballarat's running geography is anchored by a single lake that was once a dry swamp, and a marathon course that traces the same ground locals run every day. Here are the best running routes in Ballarat for 2026.
Lake Wendouree, the Steve Moneghetti Track
The loop around Lake Wendouree, named the Steve Moneghetti Track for the Ballarat-raised Olympic marathoner, runs 6 kilometres return on a sealed shared path. It is flat and scenic, passing wetland birdlife, historic boathouses and grand lakeside homes, and forms the design basis for the Ballarat Marathon's course. The lake began as "Yuille's Swamp" and was largely dry until Ballarat Gaol prisoners were used to clear and fence its perimeter after it completely dried out around 1869, the same ground runners now loop today.
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Sitting on the western edge of the Lake Wendouree loop, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens offer sealed paved paths through gardens, statuary and Prime Ministers Avenue, a good shorter add-on or warm-up loop of 2 to 3 kilometres.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park, on Ballarat's eastern side, is officially incorporated into the Ballarat Marathon's two-lap course, offering a mix of grass and path, tree-lined and shaded, popular with locals for tempo loops.
Mount Buninyong
The climb from the base of Mount Buninyong to its summit runs about 4.3 kilometres on a mix of sealed and unsealed road, steep with real elevation gain, a genuine hill-training option about 15 minutes from central Ballarat. A longer trail-running option connects Buninyong township to Ballarat along the Yarrowee River corridor, part of the broader 44 kilometre Eureka Trail network.
Running the Ballarat Marathon Route
The Ballarat Marathon, held in late April with around 12,000 entrants, uses a Steve Moneghetti-designed, World Athletics-certified two-lap course explicitly routed through Sturt Street, Victoria Park, the Arch of Victory and Lake Wendouree, meaning the everyday running loop and the marathon course are largely the same ground.
Practical Guide to Running in Ballarat
Lake Wendouree is the most reliable, well-used choice for a flat run at any time of day; Mount Buninyong is worth the trip for anyone wanting genuine elevation training.
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