Swimrun Australia

Menu
SWIMRUN BASICS
Home > Events > Gold Coast > Gold Coast Athlete Guide

GOLD COAST

ATHLETE GUIDE

Four years on the Gold Coast… how good.

What started as a new adventure for Swimrun Australia has become one of the highlights of our season; cruisy beach runs, sparkling creek crossings, hidden trails, ocean swims, and that unmistakable Gold Coast energy from start to finish.

Whether you’re stepping into your very first swimrun or returning for another hit-out with your crew, we’re stoked to have you joining us for the experience.

And this year, the lead-up is bigger than ever. Our Stroke ‘N Stride winter series has been building plenty of momentum, alongside a bunch of fun community sessions and hit-outs designed to get you feeling confident, connected, and event-ready.

There’s something pretty special about seeing this community grow each year, more adventurous souls discovering the sport, more salty smiles on course, and more people realising this whole thing is just the right amount of wild.

Let’s make this one another beauty.

Shoes on, swim on.

Andre Slade
Event Director

Event updates

WHAT'S NEW
  • Discovery athletes: Plan your arrival – A Turf Games event will already be underway at the Tallebudgera Recreation Centre before your start, making the area even busier than usual. Parking nearby will be extremely limited, so don’t count on finding a spot. We strongly recommend getting dropped off or using public transport—and allowing a little extra time for a smooth, stress-free start.
  • Bring a volunteer, Earn them a future entry – We need a few friends and family to help as course marshals for 1–2 hours while they watch the action. They’ll cheer you on and earn a free future event entry. Have them contact us: info@swimrun.com.au.
  • Need to make a change? – Transfers between distances and to another person can be made until midnight, Wednesday 9 Sep. There are no changes or transfers allowed after this, including on the day. Go to the Changes and Transfers section of the entry page to process.
  • Currumbin Beach/Experience Start – The Swell festival is taking place over the weekend at Currumbin. If you are driving and parking, factor in extra time incase parking spots are scarce.
  • Tallebudgera Creek – A dredge will be parked up in the creek but not in operation. Please keep clear of the dredge.
Transfers
PRE-EVENT BRIEFING

Know before
you go

This guide has everything you need to know. From course details to key timings and last-minute updates, it’s your go-to for all things event day. We’ll keep it updated as needed, so be sure to check back as the event approaches.

We actively monitor weather, water, and course conditions in the lead-up to the event. While we plan to go ahead rain, hail, or shine, we may adjust the course if any section is deemed unsafe. If that happens, we’ll keep you in the loop.

For major updates, we’ll email you and post announcements on the Swimrun Australia Facebook page.

The evening before the event, you’ll receive your vest number via email and SMS. Just quote this number at the registration desk to collect your event pack, it’s that simple.

QUICK GUIDE
  • Check this Athlete Guide regularly – it’s always up to date with the latest event info.
  • Event runs rain, hail or shine – but the course may be modified if conditions become unsafe.
  • Follow us on Facebook – major updates will also be shared on the Swimrun Australia page.
  • Check your messages the night before – your vest number will be sent via email and SMS; have it ready at check-in
SRA Facebook page

Start lines and finish vibes

Enduro Start

Rainbow Beach

Enduro registration and the start are located at Rainbow Beach. This is a minimal event setup with only essential signage and flags. The site will be packed down after the start. There’s limited parking and public transport; please arrange drop-off via a friend, family member, or rideshare. A bag drop service is available to transfer gear to the Event Hub.
QUICK GUIDE
  • Enduro starts at Rainbow Beach – with a simple setup of flags and signage only.
  • Plan your arrival – parking is limited, so organise a drop-off via rideshare, friends, or family.
  • Use the bag drop – gear will be transported to the Event Hub at Miami Beach for you.

Experience Start

Currumbin Beach

Experience registration and the start takes place on Currumbin Beach near Tower 11. This site also serves as a nutrition station for the Enduro. Access is via the beach entrance opposite the cafe. Due to limited parking and public transport, we recommend arranging drop-off. A bag drop service is available to transfer gear to the Event Hub.
QUICK GUIDE
  • Experience starts at Currumbin Beach (near Tower 11) – also doubles as a nutrition stop for Enduro participants.
  • Access via beach entrance opposite the café – easy to find, but plan ahead.
  • Limited parking; get dropped off – rideshare or a lift is your best bet. Bag drop available.

Discovery Start

Tallebudgera Beach

Registration and the start takes place on the sand, and this location also serves as a nutrition station for both the Experience and Enduro courses. It’s a popular, high-traffic spot with limited parking, so we recommend arranging a drop-off or taking public transport. A bag drop service is available to transfer your gear to the Event Hub.
QUICK GUIDE
  • Sprint registration and start is on the sand – also a nutrition stop for Experience and Enduro.
  • It’s a busy spot with limited parking – organise a drop-off or use public transport if possible.
  • Bag drop is available – your gear will be transported to the Event Hub at Miami Beach.

Event Hub

Miami Beach

Miami Beach is home to the Event Hub and the finish line for all events. You’ll find all the essentials; toilets, showers, water, fruit, and a post-event BBQ, plus a great atmosphere thanks to a party vibe and live race commentary. Bag collection is upstairs in the Miami SLSC clubhouse, and presentations will take place at the finish line.
QUICK GUIDE
  • Miami Beach is the Event Hub and finish line for all events – stick around for presentations.
  • Facilities include toilets, showers, water, and fruit – everything you need to recover and refuel.
  • Head upstairs at Miami SLSC for bag collection – Your bags will be available as soon as possible.

Bag Drop

If you’re bringing gear you don’t want to carry on course, use our bag drop service to have it waiting at the finish. Just keep these tips in mind:
HELPFUL TIPS
  • Drop bags in the designated van at your race start.
  • Only bags in the van will be transferred to Miami SLSC.
  • Bag security is not guaranteed, plan accordingly.

Spectator Hotspots

If your friends and family want to catch the action, here are the best spots along the course to watch you swim, run, and smile your way to the finish:
LOCATIONS
  • Currumbin Creek Northside Beach (access via Lions Park)
  • Kevin Gates Park, Tallebudgera Creek
  • Burleigh Beach
  • Miami Beach (Finish line)

Gear essentials

Pack this yourself

Swimrun’s all about streamlined gear that works from start to finish. Here’s what you’ll need to bring:
COMPULSORY
  • 1 swimsuit/wetsuit
  • 1 pair of shoes^
  • 1 whistle (available for purchase at registration)^

We’ll sort for you

At registration, you’ll receive the key items to keep you safe, visible, and on course. Here’s what’s included:
SUPPLIED
  • 1 vest per person (returned post-event)*
  • 1 tracking bracelet (returned post-event)
  • 1 swim cap (worn during swims; yours to keep)

*Keep your vest as is – no cutting or permanent changes. You can tie a knot at the back to adjust the fit. Lost or unreturned vests and tracking bracelets will incur a $100 replacement fee.

Read all about the optional gear you can wear on our Swimrun Basics page.

SWIMRUN BASICS (GEAR)

Fair Play Expectations

Swimrun is built on trust, teamwork, and respect; for each other, for the crew, and for the places we pass through. All participants must follow the Swimrun Australia Event Rules to help keep the event safe, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone involved. It’s how we create the kind of event you’ll want to come back to, again and again.
The Swimrun Spirit (Rules)

This event is AusTriathlon-sanctioned.
A technical official will be on site to help ensure things run smoothly, safely, and fairly—for every participant, at every level.

course map

Your
adventure

Explore the course before you hit it.

This map shows the full layout for all event distances, including course routes, key markings, water stops, and toilet locations. Use it to get familiar with the flow of your swimrun, spot your transitions, and plan where to refuel and reset.

Keeping track

Every athlete/team will wear a tracking bracelet to help us manage safety and record your finishing position. Final placings are based on the order you cross the finish line, not your start wave.

This event is not timed and you will not receive a time in your result.
CHECK IN
  • Rainbow Beach (Enduro start)
  • Currumbin Beach (Experience start)
  • Tallebudgera Beach (Discovery start)
CHECK OUT
  • Miami Beach (Finish)

Don’t miss a turn

Download the GPX files to your device for turn-by-turn confidence out there. Great for pre-event recon or race day peace of mind - especially if you’re using a Garmin. Garmin users can add this event.
GPX FILES
GARMIN EVENTS

Fuelling up

Our nutrition stations are stocked with hydration and other tasty fuel to keep you moving. They’re also the perfect spot to catch your breath, reset, and soak in the moment before heading off again.
COLOUR-CODED DRINKS
Containers with fast-flow taps and no-touch drink bottles will have water or electrolytes in them.
  • BLUE = Water
  • ORANGE = Electrolytes
NUTRITION STATION LOCATIONS
  • Rainbow Beach
  • Currumbin Beach
  • Tallebudgera Beach
  • Miami Beach (Finish)
Cup-less policy: Bring your own collapsible cup or small bottle. These can be purchased at registration. All litter must be kept with you.

Need a pit stop?

Public water taps and toilets are available at key points along the course, and marked on the map for easy planning. Don’t hesitate to take a quick detour to refuel or refresh when you need it.
FACILITIES
  • Water Bubblers - at beach entry/exit points, on paths
  • Public Toilets - usually in parks and near surf clubs
  • Beach Showers - at beach entry/exit points.

How it all unfolds

From first check-in to the final finish line high-five, this run sheet lays out all the key timings so you know exactly what’s happening and when. Plan ahead, arrive early, and soak it all in.

ENDURO

TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
0600 Rego Opens @ Rainbow Bay Registration Desk On Beach
0635 Rego/Bag Drop Closes Van Parked By Lifeguard Tower
0640 Compulsory Briefing Start Line
0645 Team Start Start Line
0648 Solo Start Start Line
1030 Presentations Event Hub

Rotate phone to landscape to view locations.

EXPERIENCE

TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
0700 Rego Opens @ Currumbin Registration Desk On Beach
0745 Rego/Bag Drop Closes Van Parked Near Beach Entry
0750 Compulsory Briefing Start Line
0800 Team Start Start Line
0803 Solo Start Start Line
1030 Presentations Event Hub

Rotate phone to landscape to view locations.

DISCOVERY

TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
0800 Rego Opens @ Tallebudgera Registration Desk On Beach
0845 Rego/Bag Drop Closes Van Parked Next To Surf Club
0850 Compulsory Briefing Start Line
0900 Solo Start Start Line
1030 Presentations Event Hub

Rotate phone to landscape to view locations.

STROKE 'N STRIDE

TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
0750 Rego Opens @ Miami Event Hub On Beach
0820 Rego Closes Event Hub On Beach
0825 Compulsory Briefing Start Line
0830 Start Start Line
0915 Presentations Event Hub On Beach

Rotate phone to landscape to view locations.

Keep an eye on the clock

To help keep the event safe, flowing, and within our course approvals, certain checkpoints have cut-off times. If you don’t make it to a checkpoint in time, you’ll be asked to step off the course. It’s all part of making sure everyone gets the most out of their swimrun, safely and smoothly.

These cut-off times are for Enduro, Experience, and Discovery.

Cut-Off Times

LOCATION ACTIVITY TIME
Currumbin Beach Arrived at Nutrition Station 0830
Currumbin Lagoon Completed Swim -
Tallebudgera Beach Arrived at Nutrition Station 0930
Rudd Park, Burleigh Arrived at Burleigh Beach (Pre-swim) 1000
Miami Beach Race Finish (Benchmark Time) 1030

Rotate phone to landscape to view location description.

Participants should aim to complete the course in around 3 hours and 45 minutes. To stay on pace, you’ll need to maintain approximately:

2 minutes per 100m in the swim
8 minutes per kilometre on the run

These are solid but achievable benchmarks to help you keep ahead of cut-off times and enjoy the course from start to finish.

Your safety
on course

Your safety is our top priority.

We’ve designed every part of this event with your wellbeing in mind; from course setup to water coverage, team support to public awareness. This section gives you the need-to-knows to stay safe, support others, and make the most of your swimrun experience.

Water Safety

Our water safety teams provide full swim coverage across every swim section, but you might not see them right beside you. That’s intentional. One of the core philosophies of swimrun is to keep swims natural and immersive; so water safety maintains constant a visual while giving you the space to find your rhythm.

Know this: just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not watching. Our safety teams are trained professionals.

Stroke ‘N Stride swimmers: you’ll notice water safety is more visible and closer to the swim line for your event.

EVENT SAFETY PROVIDERS
  • Broadbeach SLSC
  • Miami SLSC
WHAT TO DO IN AN IN-WATER EMERGENCY
  • Stay calm and float using any buoyancy aids
  • Raise one arm and wave to signal for help
  • Blow your whistle continuously to alert others
  • Move slowly to safety if you’re able
SAFE WATER ENTRIES AND EXITS
  • Never dive head-first—always wade or enter feet-first
  • Shoes must stay on throughout the race (incl. swims)
  • Be alert when entering or exiting the water; surfaces may be slippery or sharp

First Aid & Medical

If you or someone around you needs medical assistance, we’ve got trained first aid teams ready to respond, both at the Event Hub and roving along the course. Here’s how to get support quickly and what to do while waiting for help.
SUPPORT LOCATIONS
  • Along the Course (Mobile)
  • At the Event Hub
TO GET SUPPORT:
  • Stay with the injured participant
  • Alert the nearest event crew member
  • Remain on-site until help arrives
Help When It’s Needed
Swimrun is a team sport; even when you’re racing solo. If another participant is in trouble and you’re able to help, stop and render assistance. Event crew may also ask for your help in an emergency - responding is part of the swimrun spirit.
Event-Day Safety Reminders
  • Know the course and follow all race rules
  • Attend the pre-race briefing - no exceptions
  • Use caution at all road crossings and follow traffic rules
  • If withdrawing, inform a crew member straight away

Team Safety

If you’re racing as a team, you must stay within 10m of each other at all times; both swimming and running.

If one member retires, the whole team retires. Leaving a teammate behind is unsafe and causes unnecessary concern for safety crews tracking participants on course.

REMEMBER
  • Stay within 10m of your teammate; on swims and runs
  • If one retires, you both retire
  • Never leave your teammate behind

Sharing the Course

This is an open, public course; shared with beachgoers, families, dog walkers, runners, paddlers, and anyone else enjoying the coastline that day. While you’re pushing through a feel-good challenge, others are simply out for a stroll or a swim.
Be mindful, respectful, and adaptable
  • Expect people on paths, beaches, and in the water
  • Give way when needed; even if it means slowing down
  • Stay aware and courteous throughout
Remember: we’re guests in these spaces, how we move through them matters. It’s all part of the Swimrun Australia ethos: adventure with care.

Swimrun Australia

For The Amphibious