2026 Course maps revealed!
After plenty of energy, planning and considerations - we’re excited to reveal our 2026 Bendigo Ford Fun Run courses!
With Pall Mall as the centrepiece, these new courses will now begin at Sidney Myer Place and finish in Rosalind Park. The routes will take participants past the picturesque Bendigo RSL, the Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo Conservatory, Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct and the Ulumbarra Theatre - all on closed roads.
The 1km, 3km and 5km events are all single laps, whereas the 10km event is two laps of the 5km course. The Half Marathon begins with a 1.1km hot dog circuit along Pall Mall, before tackling four laps of the 5km course.
One key issue with the past 10km and 21.1km Half Marathon courses was the out-and-back extension down to White Hills via the Bendigo Creek Trail. This was great section when we had smaller fields, but now - as our begin to exceed 3,000 participants across the day - that course was simply too narrow to host the event safely and enjoyably.
Another narrow section of past BFFR route was around the Queen Elizabeth Oval on the Barnard Street end. We’ve now alleviated that narrow point, too.
To help everyone have a great day out on course, we’ve massaged some of the start times slightly. This will help reduce overlap between events (although with a lap course it is unavoidable to have some crossover).
The traffic management involved in these events is extensive, and expensive, and we thank the team at VORM Traffic Management, and the assistance of Powers Country Express and Bendigo Temporary Fence, in making this route possible.
We hope you’re as excited as we are to run this city, again!
See you on March 1.
Nigel Preston
Course Director, Bendigo Ford Fun Run
1KM KIDS DASH
START TIME: 9:15AM (New time)
START / FINISH LOCATION: Sidney Myer Place.
The 1km Kids Dash will now start and finish in Sidney Myer Place, right next to Rosalind Park, the iconic Bendigo RSL and the Bendigo Visitor Centre.
Our Dashers will turn right onto Pall Mall towards the Alexandra Fountain, take a U-Turn and then run along past the Shamrock Hotel to the far end of Pall Mall near the Bendigo TAFE.
From here, you’ll take another U-Turn before racing back to the Start / Finish Line in Sidney Myer Place to collect a finisher medal!
3KM SHORT COURSE
START TIME: 8:30AM
START LOCATION: Sidney Myer Place.
FINISH LOCATION: Rosalind Park
The 3km Short Course will now start and finish in Sidney Myer Place, right next to Rosalind Park, the iconic Bendigo RSL and the Bendigo Visitor Centre.
Participants will turn right onto Pall Mall towards the Alexandra Fountain, take a U-Turn and then run or walk along past the Shamrock Hotel to the far end of Pall Mall near the Bendigo TAFE.
From here, you’ll make another U-Turn back along Pall Mall, then a right onto Easter Fair Way and Farmers Lane onto Bridge Street. You follow Bridge St to a marked 3km turnaround point and return to Rosalind Park via the Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct.
5KM COURSE
WAVES START FROM TIME: 10:00AM
START LOCATION: Sidney Myer Place, Bendigo.
FINISH LOCATION: Rosalind Park, Bendigo.
The 5km will now start and finish in Sidney Myer Place, right next to Rosalind Park, the iconic Bendigo RSL and the Bendigo Visitor Centre.
Participants will turn right onto Pall Mall towards the Alexandra Fountain, take a U-Turn and then run or walk along past the Shamrock Hotel to the far end of Pall Mall near the Bendigo TAFE.
From here, you’ll make another U-Turn back along Pall Mall, then a right onto Easter Fair Way and Farmers Lane onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge St all the way to Nolan St and make a U-Turn back through the Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct.
From here, it’s an uphill (em, sorry!) push up Park Rd and a left hand turn onto Gaol Rd past Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and the recently refurbished Municipal Baths.
Take a tour around the roundabout near the Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO) and it’s a downhill flow along Gaol Rd and Park Rd and into Rosalind Park to the finish line near the rotunda.
10KM COURSE
START TIME: 9:00AM
START LOCATION: Sidney Myer Place.
FINISH LOCATION: Rosalind Park.
The 10km will now start and finish in Sidney Myer Place, right next to Rosalind Park, the iconic Bendigo RSL and the Bendigo Visitor Centre. The course is two laps of a 5km circuit and finishes in Rosalind Park.
Participants will turn right onto Pall Mall towards the Alexandra Fountain, take a U-Turn and then run along past the Shamrock Hotel to the far end of Pall Mall near the Bendigo TAFE.
From here, you’ll make another U-Turn back along Pall Mall, then a right onto Easter Fair Way and Farmers Lane onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge St all the way to Nolan St and make a U-Turn back through the Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct.
From here, it’s an uphill (em, sorry!) push up Park Rd and a left hand turn onto Gaol Rd past Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and the recently refurbished Municipal Baths.
Take a tour around the roundabout near the Queen Elizabeth Oval and it’s a downhill flow along Gaol Rd and Park Rd.
LAP TWO:
You’ll then begin lap two by running past the Bendigo Conservatory and back onto Pall Mall and following the route as described above.
At the end of your second lap, you’ll come down Park Rd from Ulumbarra Theatre, into Rosalind Park to the finish near the rotunda.
21.1KM HALF MARATHON COURSE
21.1KM HALF MARATHON COURSE
START TIME: 7:30AM (NEW TIME!)
START LOCATION: Sidney Myer Place.
FINISH LOCATION: Rosalind Park.
The 21.1km Half Marathon will now start and finish in Sidney Myer Place, right next to Rosalind Park, the iconic Bendigo RSL and the Bendigo Visitor Centre.The course is one lap of 1.1km on Pall Mall, followed by four laps of a 5km circuit that finishes in Rosalind Park.
FIRST 1.1KM LOOP
From the startline, participants will turn right onto Pall Mall towards the Alexandra Fountain, take a U-Turn and then run along past the Shamrock Hotel to the far end of Pall Mall near the Bendigo TAFE.
From here, you’ll make another U-Turn back along Pall Mall and past the start line.
5KM CIRCUITS:
Once you’ve travelled north along Pall Mall again to the Bendigo TAFE, make another U-Turn along Pall Mall but this time turn right onto Easter Fair Way, Farmers Lane and then onto Bridge Street. Follow Bridge St all the way to Nolan St and make a U-Turn back through the Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct.
From here, it’s an uphill (em, sorry!) push up Park Rd and a left hand turn onto Gaol Rd past Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and the recently refurbished Municipal Baths.
Take a tour around the roundabout near the Queen Elizabeth Oval and it’s a downhill flow along Gaol Rd and Park Rd.
LAPS TWO, THREE AND FOUR:
You’ll then begin laps two, three and four by running past the Bendigo Conservatory and back onto Pall Mall and following the route as described above.
At the end of your final lap, you’ll come down Park Rd from Ulumbarra Theatre, into Rosalind Park to the finish near the rotunda.