IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, Australia · October · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Flat run finishing on Town Green in the centre of town
- Coastal bike with Tacking Point Lighthouse views
- Rolling-start river swim near Westport Park
- Strong community sideline support reported
Watch out for
- Bike has about 1,455 m (4,774 ft) of climbing, with an 18.6% ramp ridden twice
- Wind is common on the coast
- Heavy rain can force the swim to be cancelled, as in 2025
- Date moved from May to 18 October in 2026, so past conditions may differ
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
No first-person age-group reports found. Positives are a strong community reputation and a Town Green finish, offset by the 2025 swim cancellation. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
The 2025 swim was cancelled for water quality and the date moved from May to October 2026. No athlete complaints found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.9
The river swim is gentle, but about 1,455 m (4,774 ft) of bike climbing and wind make it a hard first 70.3. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
2022 winners went 4:10:58 and 4:42:33, and the typical finisher took about 5:48. Hills and wind keep it slower than flat 70.3s. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough1.9
Hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike with an 18.6% ramp ridden twice and frequent wind, then a flat run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
No October water data found. Spring river water is probably 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
Inferred spring river temperature of about 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
Sheltered river, though tide and a weir add some current. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
Single lap with a self-seeded rolling start. Tidal flow affects the 1.9 km (1.2 mi) course. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.1
River swims after rain risk poor water quality, and that cancelled the 2025 swim. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Organisers dropped Houston Mitchell Drive in 2011 for a better surface. No other reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
The full-distance course keeps one lane coned on Hastings River Drive. The 70.3 coastal roads are not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Coastal roads, Tacking Point Lighthouse and Lake Cathie. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.5
2011 was sunny but windy and 2019 had gusty south-westerlies. Athletes cite wind on both bike and run. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.4
Winners rode about 2:10-2:11 in 2011 to 2015 in strong wind, and the typical finisher was slowed by hills and gusts. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly1.9
About 1,455 m (4,774 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), well above 1,250 m (4,100 ft). The figure comes from an unofficial recreation. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Technical turns, short steep climbs up to 18.6% and fast descents down to 23.9%. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.9
Known for energetic sideline support, with the finish on Town Green. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
No aid reports. Standard Ironman provision is assumed. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Break wall, Town Beach and the Town Green finish. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Flat coastal run, though wind was a problem in 2011. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.1
Described as flat through the town centre. Elevation is unpublished. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
October highs around 24 °C (75 °F) and lows near 14 °C (57 °F), from climate averages rather than race reports. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
Windy, showery editions in 2011 and 2019, and the 2025 swim was cancelled after heavy rain. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Coastal town with a break wall, river and beaches. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Westport Park transition and the Town Green finish are close, and the run passes the centre. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 5 m (16 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Coastal holiday town with plenty of stock, though race weekend fills the central strip. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No race-week price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Westport Park transition and the Town Green finish are within walking range of the centre. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Regional airport, or about 400 km (250 mi) by road from Sydney. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Transition and finish are close together. The current setup has not been confirmed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Established coastal town with waterfront restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 18 October 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 1,280 athletes
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Hastings River (between the mainland and Pelican Island), entry/exit at Short Street boat ramp near Westport Park (river)
- Swim start
- rolling (self-seeded at the boat ramp)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 1,455 m (4,770 ft)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Matthew Flinders Drive (ridden twice, max grade about 18.6%)
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Mostly coastal and town streets; limited data
- Air temperature
- 14–24 °C (57–75 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate coastal
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ); Sydney (SYD) is about 400 km (250 mi) by road
- Where to stay
- Town Centre / Westport Park, Town Beach
- Booking
- Coastal holiday town with plentiful stock but race weekend fills the central strip.
What racers and reviewers say
- TrizoneRaced 2011 · article · Positive
Course announcement for the 2011 edition: a one-lap 1.9 km (1.2 mi) river swim from the Short Street boat ramp, a one-lap 90 km (56 mi) bike with moderate climbs and undulations plus a Matthew Flinders Drive climb on the way home, and a two-lap 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run finishing at Town Green.
- PortNewsRaced 2019 · article · Mixed
Race-day guide for the combined Ironman and 70.3: rolling-start river swim between the mainland and Pelican Island, coastal bike toward Camden Haven, and run past the rock wall to a Town Green finish. Forecast was gusty south-westerlies around 23 C (73 F) with showers.
- PortNewsRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Organiser explained the 2023 bike changes: the full course moved to new roads, while 70.3 riders keep a separate course and climb Matthew Flinders Drive twice, turning at Lake Cathie. The organiser said the 70.3 remains important to the event.
- ROUVYRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Official-platform GPX recreation of the 70.3 bike: 90 km (56 mi), 1,455 m (4,774 ft) of climbing, steepest grade 18.6% and steepest descent -23.9%, described as rolling and technical.
- SlowtwitchRaced 2011 · article · Positive
Results report for the 2011 edition: Fettell won in 3:53:29 and Lester in 4:28:25, both with the day's fastest bike splits (2:11:12 and 2:31:16).
Show 3 more
- TriathleteRaced 2011 · article · Mixed
Coverage of the inaugural race described sunny but windy conditions; winners spoke of the bike being hard and the wind biting on the run.
“That was really hard on the run with that wind.”
- Port Macquarie News of the AreaRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
The swim was cancelled after heavy rain left poor water quality; pros started a 90 km (56 mi) time trial and finished on Town Green with finishers arriving into the night.
- endurance-data.comRaced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
2022 stats list 1,278 athletes and 932 finishers; winners were Longmuir 4:10:58 and Eberle 4:42:33, with a modal finish time of 5:30-5:44.
Sources
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