Your Guide to IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast

When: Sunday 14 September 2025

Swim, cycle and run through a sun-kissed course featuring golden beaches, ocean views and rolling hinterland – IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast is not to be missed.

Professionals and amateurs alike will go head-to-head on a course taking in some of the Sunshine Coast’s most stunning locations, starting and finishing at the spectacular Mooloolaba Beach.

Whether you’re competing yourself or cheering on from the sidelines, we’ve put together an IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast guide covering everything you need to know, from the event essentials to what to do, where to eat and drink and where to stay on the Sunshine Coast.

IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast essentials

What’s in a name? IRONMAN 70.3 is a half-distance Ironman, named because of its length – 70.3 miles (113 kilometres) over three legs, taking in a 2.1 kilometre swim, 90-kilometre bike ride, and 21.1 kilometre run.

Organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), there are 130 IRONMAN 70.3 events around the globe, with two in Queensland—IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast and IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns (June 2025).

Kids needn’t miss out on the action either. IRONKIDS takes place the Saturday before the big event for kids 7-1, with a 1 kilometre run for kids aged 7-10, and 2 kilometres for kids aged 11-13.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast course

It all starts with an ocean swim off Mooloolaba Beach, starting at the sheltered end up near Point Cartwright before a loop on the white sand in front of Mooloolaba’s famous esplanade.

With the saltwater still drying on their skin, athletes will transition onto two wheels, cycling an ultra-fast and smooth course that passes through picturesque hinterland while linking two of the Sunshine Coast’s most-loved holiday spots – Coolum and Maroochydore.

The final leg is a two-lap run that showcases sweeping coastal views from Alexandra Headland Hill as well as the iconic Mooloolaba boardwalk and esplanade. Competitors will then dig deep and find that extra gear as they feel the euphoria of dashing to the finish line in front of a roaring crowd.

Competitor and spectator information

For event details including how to register, head to the official IRONMAN 70.3 website. Make sure to download the IRONMAN Oceania App—it has everything you need to know as an athlete or a spectator, from course maps to schedule details.

Want to know the best spot to catch the action? Some of the top vantage points include the corner of Buderim Avenue and Mooloolaba Esplanade, Alexandra Parade at Cotton Tree, and of course the finish line at Beach Terrace where the beats are pumping and the euphoria high.

What to do on the Sunshine Coast

While you’re on the Sunshine Coast, paddle the Noosa Everglades, one of only two Everglades systems in the world, discover brightly coloured sand dunes along the Great Beach Drive ‘sand highway’ between Noosa and K’gari, or see sharks swim overhead (yes, really) at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast.

Can’t get enough of the surf? With over 100 kilometres of coastline, there’s a beach to suit everyone, from the gentle waves of Caloundra’s Bulcock Beach to the epic surf breaks off Alexander Headland.

You know it for its beaches, but the Sunshine Coast has another equally impressive ace up its sleeve. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is a mountainous patchwork of sub-tropical rainforest and undulating farmland harbouring a world of distilleries, galleries, cafes and microbreweries.

While you’re there, nab yourself a bargain at the Eumundi Markets (one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest artisan markets), browse cute country towns like Montville, Maleny, and Kenilworth, or take a dip and cool off at Kondalilla Falls.

What to eat and drink on the Sunshine Coast

With fishing trawlers bringing in wild-caught seafood daily and abundant fresh produce growing in the nearby hinterland, Mooloolaba is an absolute foodie’s paradise.

Seafood lover? Catch your dinner at Fish on Parkyn, a local institution serving up ‘dock to table’ dishes like Malay seafood curry with Mooloolaba prawns. Elsewhere, step aboard Prawn Star Mooloolaba and enjoy fresh tiger prawns or bugs right there on the water, or simply grab fish and chips from a local takeaway and enjoy them along the esplanade.

For a fining dining experience with kick, reserve a table at Spice Bar and eat your way through their signature five, seven or nine-course Asians fusion degustation menus, or sit down for award-winning Italian at Bella Venezia and pair 360-degree panoramic views with fresh pappardelle ragout.

After something a little more casual? Hit up Rice Boi at the Wharf, a Japanese Izakaya style dive bar at the slinging Asian street-food inspired dishes like 10-hour coconut braised beef or kingfish sashimi.

You don’t need to leave Mooloolaba (see here for even more options), but if you do want to eat your way around the Sunshine Coast, try the Thai-inspired flavours in what Gourmet Magazine describe as a ‘tropical film set’ at Spirit House, the awarded winning and chef-hatted The Tamarind at Maleny, or Noosa’s Sum Yung Guys, part-owned by former MasterChef runner up, Matt Sinclair.

Where to stay on the Sunshine Coast

With its 300 days of sunshine and picture-perfect beaches, it's no wonder that Mooloolaba has so many accommodation options to choose from.

If you’re competing in IRONMAN 70.3, the best place to stay is in one of the many luxe hotels or oceanfront apartments right along the esplanade—just metres from the start and finish line.

Check into Breeze Mooloolaba, a luxury resort perched on the esplanade with one-and-two-bedroom self-contained apartments, or the Mantra Mooloolaba Beach with panoramic ocean views and a swimming pool set amongst lush gardens, or Landmark Resort—about as close as you can get to the flags without being in the surf!

Looking to stay somewhere with that little bit extra? Try Coco Mooloolaba as not only do they feature stylish and well-appointed self-contained apartments, but they also offer free beach chair and cabana hire.