Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Triathlon · Middle Distance (70.3)
IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie 2026
- Race day
- Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Location
- Port Macquarie, New South Wales
- Distance
- 113 km total
1.9km swim 90km bike 21.1km run
IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie: 18 October 2026. Hastings River swim, two laps of Ocean Drive with the Matthew Flinders climb, a two-lap town run.
38 days to go
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Venue
- Westport Park, Port Macquarie, with the finish at Town Green
- Distance
- Middle Distance (70.3) — 113km total
- Start Time
- Confirmed in the Athlete Information Guide during race week; the half-distance field goes after the full-distance one on the same morning.
- Draft-Legal Bike
- No — non-drafting
- Cut-Off
- Per the official 2024 combined Athlete Information Guide: 1 hour 10 minutes for the swim, 5 hours 30 minutes for the bike, and 8 hours 30 minutes overall, all from your individual start.
Also this weekend
IRONMAN Australia runs on the same day over the same ground, which is why the two run turnarounds sit close together. IRONKIDS Port Macquarie runs across the weekend.
Leg 1 of 3
Swim — 1.9km
A single lap of the calm, protected Hastings River from Westport Park, heading north. Buoys stay on your right except the yellow turning buoys, which are on your left. The swim exits back where it started, straight into T1.
- Venue
- Hastings River, Port Macquarie
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- River — sheltered and calm.
Wetsuit: Decided on the day against the measured temperature. The organiser publishes an average water temperature of 23°C, which sits close to the wetsuit-legal threshold — check rather than assume.
Leg 2 of 3
Bike — 90km
Two laps of the coastal loop, and a harder 90km than most. Out via Clarence Street onto Ocean Drive with its rolling hills and sweeping ocean views, a picturesque loop down to the Tacking Point Lighthouse, then south to a turnaround at Lake Cathie. The return brings the Matthew Flinders Drive climb — and then you do the whole thing again, climb included.
- Venue
- Ocean Drive, Tacking Point and Lake Cathie
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Sealed road — rolling, with a real climb twice.
Non-drafting
Leg 3 of 3
Run — 21.1km
Two laps through the middle of town. Each lap passes the finish line, heads out to Town Beach and back down the breakwall, then south along the path beside Kooloonbung Creek, turning in a shaded park past the giant goanna, before heading north to the turnaround at the start of Settlement Point Road. Note the 70.3 turn sits just short of the IRONMAN Australia one — going past it is a real and recurring mistake. The second lap finishes on the red carpet at Town Green.
- Venue
- Port Macquarie town centre, breakwall and Kooloonbung Creek
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Sealed path and road — flat.
Wetsuit outlook
Will you need a wetsuit at IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie?
Water temperature at river in October has typically been 17.8°C, ranging from 17.1°C to 19.3°C in eight of every ten years. Against IRONMAN / 70.3's thresholds for this race's 1900m swim, that means:
Wetsuit optional — and recommended
Up to and including 24.5°C (76.1°F) every athlete may wear a wetsuit and remain eligible for awards.
What would have happened in each of the last 16 years
- Optional (recommended)16 of 16
What the organiser says
Decided on the day against the measured temperature. The organiser publishes an average water temperature of 23°C, which sits close to the wetsuit-legal threshold — check rather than assume.
Estimated from air-temperature history — no direct measurement of this water exists, and small, shallow venues tend to run a degree or two warmer than shown. The official temperature is taken an hour before the start, and only that reading decides the rule on the day.
Transitions
Transition is at Westport Park. The bike returns via the Buller Street entry, reversing the swim-to-bike flow; the run exit sits beside the swim entry, turning right under the bridge.
IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie Split Calculator
IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie Split-Time Calculator
Enter your own swim, bike and run pace to project a real finish time.
Projected Finish Time
5:38:03
Racing a different distance? Try the generic split calculator or the swim pace calculator.
Where IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie starts and finishes
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on. The official course map is the one to use: view it on the organiser's site .
What you can qualify for
This is the Oceania TriClub Championship. IRONMAN 70.3 races also award age-group qualifying slots for the 70.3 World Championship, published per race and per age group before race day.
Entry & Ballot
Direct entry summary
Registration is open, direct through IRONMAN at tiered pricing that rises as the race approaches.
Ballot policy
No ballot — entry is direct and tier-priced.
Age requirement
Not published for this event — check the official race website.
Charity Places
Not published for this event — check the official race website.
Race Day Info & Checklist
On the day
- The Oceania TriClub Championship, shared with IRONMAN Australia on the same day.
- The bike takes the southern loop of the full-distance course twice, including the Matthew Flinders Drive climb on both laps — this is not a flat 90km.
- The 70.3 run turnaround on Settlement Point Road sits just short of the full-distance one. The organiser flags it explicitly.
- Town Green is the finish for both races and is one of the most concentrated finish-line atmospheres on the circuit.
- On-course fuel, per the official 2024 combined Athlete Information Guide, is PURE Sports Nutrition Electrolyte (lemon) and Maurten Energy Gels/Bars, plus cola, bananas, lollies, pretzels and Anzac biscuits on the run.
- No transition bags here — all bike and run gear goes out with your bike on race morning; bags or tubs left in transition are removed. Your athlete gift (t-shirt and street gear bag) is collected separately from the Athlete Gift tent at Town Square.
- A paid VIP "IRONMAN Experiences" package is offered, with perks like priority bike racking, dedicated bag drop and medal engraving — entirely optional. Paid bike mechanics are available Thursday-Saturday of race week, plus limited free emergency service on race morning.
Checklist
- A bike plan that treats Matthew Flinders Drive as something you meet twice
- The 70.3 run turnaround identified — it is short of the IRONMAN Australia turn, and overshooting adds distance you did not enter for
- A wetsuit decision made against the measured temperature; 23°C average water is borderline
- Sun protection for a two-lap October run in New South Wales
- Gear packed to the published transition process
Transport, Spectating & Where to Stay
Transport
Wauchope station, about 20km inland, is the nearest rail with a coach connection. Most athletes fly into Port Macquarie Airport or drive from Sydney or Brisbane.
Not published for this event — check the official race website.
Closures along Ocean Drive, Clarence Street, the town centre and the breakwall.
Spectator guide
Westport Park for the swim and transitions, the breakwall for the run, and Town Green for the finish.
Port Macquarie is small and the two-lap run course is entirely walkable. The bike course is not.
Where to stay
Port Macquarie town centre
+ Walk to Westport Park, the run and Town Green.
– Books out for race week; the town is small and two races share it.
Lighthouse Beach and Ocean Drive
+ On the bike course, so you can ride the hard part in training. Cheaper.
– A drive to transition on a morning when the roads are closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie?
Sunday 18 October 2026, alongside IRONMAN Australia on the same day, from Westport Park in Port Macquarie.
Is the IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie bike course hilly?
Yes, by 70.3 standards. It runs two laps of the coastal loop on Ocean Drive with rolling hills, the Tacking Point Lighthouse loop and the Matthew Flinders Drive climb — which you meet twice.
Where is the IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie swim?
A single 1.9km lap of the Hastings River from Westport Park, heading north. Calm, protected, and exiting where it started.
How do I avoid the wrong run turnaround?
The 70.3 turnaround on Settlement Point Road is just short of the IRONMAN Australia one. Both races run the same day, and the organiser flags the difference explicitly because people do overshoot it.
Do you need a wetsuit at IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie?
Check rather than assume. The published average water temperature is 23°C, close to the wetsuit-legal threshold, and the decision is made on the day.
What are the IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie cut-offs?
Per the official 2024 guide: 1h10m for the swim, 5h30m for the bike, and 8h30m overall, all from your individual start.
Do you get transition bags at IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie?
No — unlike many IRONMAN races, all your bike and run gear goes out with your bike on race morning. Bags or tubs left in transition get removed.