Race ready: Your guide to the Mooloolaba Triathlon

Event details | Explore Mooloolaba | Where to eat and drink | Where to stay

When: TBC March 2026

Located on Queensland’s glittering Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba is a holidaymaker’s dream – the perfect place to laze by the pool, sip cocktails, or… compete in a triathlon.

First held in 1993, the Mooloolaba Triathlon —or ‘Moo Tri’ as it’s known by locals—is Australia’s second largest triathlon.

Whether you’re a pro triathlete, a first-timer, or a junior with an eye on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Moo Tri has something for all ages and fitness levels.

For your essential Mooloolaba Triathlon Guide, read on—we’ve got everything you need to know, not just about the event itself, but also how to make the most of this holiday heaven.

Mooloolaba Triathlon event essentials

The Mooloolaba Triathlon is made up of three events, headlined by the Moo Tri itself – a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre ride and 10-kilometre run for individuals and teams.

Full triathlon distance a little daunting? ‘Tri’ out this exhilarating three-discipline sport with the half-distance triathlon—750-metre swim 20-kilometres ride, 5-kilometre run.

For the first time,  the 2025 event featured an Aquabike event (swim and ride legs only), which doubled as both the Australian Standard Distance Aquabike Championship and as a World Qualifying event.

Mooloolaba Triathlon Course

The full distance Moo Tri starts and finishes at the eastern end of Mooloolaba’s famous Main Beach. You’ll feel a mix of excitement and nerves as you dive into the iconic surf for a 1.5-kilometre loop towards the Mooloolaba Surf Club and back.

From there, transition onto two wheels and hit those pedals—you’re rolling down the Sunshine Coast Motorway, closed to everyone but you and your fellow competitors. With just a short-climb at the start, this is a fast and furious 40-kilometre burst.

Then, bring it all home by running two laps around a 5-kilometre course featuring sweeping views out over the Pacific Ocean from Alexandra Headland and along the Mooloolaba beachfront.

The Aquabike and half-distance tri events use similar but truncated courses, both starting from Mooloolaba Main Beach—check the Moo Tri website for details.

Information for competitors and spectators

So, you've decided you're going to compete. Now what? Your first step is to cruise on over to the Moo Tri website and register. Hurry—the earlier you register the less it’ll cost you.

Once you've registered, read through the Athlete Information Guide and download the Mooloolaba Tri app for all the event details. Oh, and don’t forget to start training!

Come race day, you'll need to check in and get your bike racked. Choose your check-in time when you register, and make sure you're there nice and early.

Cheering from the sidelines? The best place to watch is the finish chute—this is the place to cheer on the triathletes as they rustle up every last ounce of determination to get to the end.

Best things to do in Mooloolaba

After running, cycling and swimming around Mooloolaba, you’re probably going to want to slow it down a notch and enjoy everything it has to offer. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

Recover post-Tri with a frolic in the waves at Mooloolaba Beach, surf the mad breaks off Alexandra Headland (want to learn to surf? XL Surfing Academy will have you standing up in no time) or choose from any of the other beaches along the Sunshine Coast’s 100-kilometres of coastline. 

Want to swim with sharks, but on dry land? Head to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and explore 11 interactive animal zones for close encounters with incredible sea creatures. Swim with sharks, hand feed penguins and catch the famous seal show for a fun family day out.

If it’s your first time at Mooloolaba, why not get your bearings with Aquaduck Sunshine Coast—an amphibious bus that’ll take you on a tour of the best of Mooloolaba by road, before driving into the Mooloolah River (yes, really) for a scenic cruise.

You can also see the river from aboard a 1960s timber ferry. Take a cruise with Mooloolaba Canal Cruise, and see waterfront mansions and Steve Irwin’s Croc One boat up close, complete with a beer, wine or soft drink in hand.

Eat and drink your way around Mooloolaba 

From trawler-to-table seafood to paddock-to-plate produce, Mooloolaba’s sun-soaked strip of golden beaches is a foodie’s dream.

Sail into The Wharf—an entertainment and dining hub on the Mooloolah River—and enjoy Japanese Izakaya-inspired street food like sticky char sui pork or katsu curry fries at Rice Boi, or contemporary Australian at the Hampstons-esque Pier 33 (the Queensland grilled barramundi fillet... yum!)

Looking to carb load before the big race? Book a table at Bella Venezia, an award winning Italian restaurant located right on the esplanade. Choose from culinary delights like Mooloolaba King Prawn ravioli, traditional Napoletana pizzas cooked on stone, or Granite Belt eye fillet.

With flotillas of trawlers bringing in fresh seafood daily, is it any wonder that Mooloolaba is a paradise for seafood lovers? Head to Fish on Parkyn for fresh wild-caught dishes like Malay seafood curry and fresh tiger prawns. Or for a casual treat, grab fish and chips to enjoy by the esplanade.

For some casual dining, Pavilion Mooloolaba delivers the vibe with rattan chairs, sea views, and a menu featuring unique tastes like Mooloolaba prawn and scallop spaghetinni or chargrilled beetroot—washed down of course with a sunset negroni or cocktail of your choice.

Where to stay in Mooloolaba

Going for a PB? Make sure you get your full eight hours and check into one of Mooloolaba’s best accommodation options.

Location wise, it’s hard to beat the esplanade—not only is it a short walk from the start and finish line, the hotels and apartments here all have stunning panoramic views out over the Pacific Ocean.

Call the fully self-contained Pacific Beach Resort apartments home for the night, recover post-race in the pool at Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, or stay a few nights at Coco Mooloolaba, where free cabana hire will have you switching from athlete to holidaymaker in no-time.

For boutique accomodation, try Spinnaker Quays on the Spit, near the Wharf with views of the Mooloolah River, or Loea Boutique Hotel in nearby Maroochydore with its magnesium pool and walled gardens.

For endurance events around Queensland, check out the 2025 season here.