21.1 km (Half Marathon)
MALDON TO CASTLEMAINE
An exciting half marathon through some of Central Victoria’s finest countryside. From dense woodland to open paddocks following the route of the historic Goldfields Steam Train on well made fire trails and paths.
An undulating (but net downhill!) course that takes you point to point from Maldon to Castlemaine alongside the picturesque Victorian Goldfields Railway trail. This is not your typical half marathon. It is an adventure within itself.
The course sets off from the quaint Maldon station (1) and heads out along Hornsby Street (2), crossing the Bendigo-Maldon road and making its way down to the edge of the peaceful Muckleford Nature Reserve (keep your eyes peeled for wallabies and wild flowers!) and the start of the railway track. This section of the run is gently downhill and gives the chance to get into a great rhythm early on. You will then turn right and continue on the Tatt Town track (3) as the course climbs gently through vast woodland.
A left-hand turn into Smiths Reef Track (4) precedes a short, sharp uphill pinch, followed by a welcome 4 km descent as you head out of the bushland and into the wide open farmland areas of Muckleford, via the Gowar Track (5) and finally re-joining the Railway Track (6). This continues to the midway point at Muckleford Station (7). This is the lowest part of the course, with an altitude of 276m above sea level. Toilets and water are available here as you get set for the back half of your run.
Now the course takes you through delightful open paddocks with expansive views, the railway line never far out of sight, and begins to climb again gently through more open woodland. A switchback takes you around a deep gully with views of the Sawmill Road rail bridge (8), the start of the last section of the course and the penultimate climb. You will turn left onto the railway track once again for a short few hundred metres, then cross the tracks to the left and head up through the centre track and the lovely Walmer Forest (Reptiles are often seen sunning themselves on the centre track. Keep your eyes open!). Once you crest the top of the final climb up the centre track, you will turn right and commence the fastest finish Castlemaine offers.
Turning right and setting foot on the bitumen for the first time, the run will head down Muckleford Castlemaine Road and then Mary Street (turn your head to the right and you will see Dhelkaya Health. The very reason we do this run!) into the back of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, over the bridge to cross the creek, then our super course marshall’s will guide you to turn right, and head for the southern gates of the Gardens.
After crossing Walker Street, it is all eyes for Camp Reserve, and the finish line is only 1 km away! A fast, flat finish down the wide road of Gingell Street. You will enter the northern gates of Camp Reserve, before looping around onto the oval and heading for a finishing shoot where you can soak in your achievements and be cheered on by family and friends.
NOTE — CURRENT GPX FILE HERE WILL BE UPDATED SOON
Download GPX File
10 km Run
WALMER FOREST
A challenging 10 km run that has a tough first half (but lots of lovely surroundings to distract you!) and a super speedy back end. A 10km run and a local bushland tour all in one.
Starting at Camp Reserve (1), you will head out along the wide access of Gingell Street (2) with Barkers Creek to your right. Crossing Walker Street, you will run along a grand oak-lined lane to the right of the commonly known Sunken Oval (3). This marks the 1 km point. You will then enter the beautiful Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, crossing via the Doran Street foot bridge that crosses Barkers Creek.
Our splendid marshals will guide you left after a couple hundred metres, then back again and over the second (white) bridge on your left (1.2km). You have now entered the local flora and fauna reserve (4), the home of the Eltham Copper Butterfly.
You will bear left as you climb the rocky and steep ascent. Marshalls will guide you to the left onto Mary Street. Mary Street winds around the hill, then into a lovely downhill dip (5) as you head towards the Pony Club. Crossing Richards Road, you will test your fitness climbing up to the top of the hill for the 4 km mark, turning left (6) and left again through a drink station and along the gravel Boundary Road that skirts the Walmer Forest. Following this for 1km, you will run through springtime bushland before turning into Centre Road as the course merges with the half marathon course. There will be a Marshall here cheering you on.
Less than 1km back up centre road, you will emerge onto Castlemaine Muckleford Road, where you can run down that marvellous hill back across Richards Road, up Mary Street, and back into the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.
This time, a Marshal will direct you to take the left track down the hill, across the Barkers Creek bridge, and then stay on the right of the track. You will join the 5km runners and exit through the Walker Street gate. Once across Walker Street, you can finish strongly down Gingell Street and back into the Camp Reserve for drinks, burgers, and a strong sense of achievement having completed the 10km at Grainger Legal Run the Maine.
5 km Run / Walk
BOTANICAL GARDENS RETURN*
A fast and almost flat 5 km out and back run that takes in Castlemaine’s historic botanical gardens.
This flat short course starts at Camp Reserve and heads 1km along the pretty Gingell Street pathway to the famous Castlemaine Botanical gardens, with Barkers Creek1 never far out of sight.
The run crosses Walker Street, you’ll see our local hospital2 up on the hill to your left as you travel along an oak lined land before turning right and crossing Barkers Creek for the first time.
Upon entering the gardens at about 2 km you will turn a sharp left then continue clockwise around the perimeter of the gardens to take in highlights such as the ‘tree of the year 2021’, a 159-year-old English oak that grows next to the children’s playground. You will also go past the old foundry3 on your left as you begin to head south again. At the 3 k mark you will have run under the Wisteria Arbour and will head to your right again to complete a lap of Lake Johanna4.
Leaving the park (3.8km), you will see the old woollen mill5, (The Mill) which has now been repurposed as a small business, foodies and art precedent. Now just back across Walker street and 1km down Gingell, to go back to Camp reserve. Well done.
*course start & finish subject to change
21.1 km (Half Marathon)
MALDON TO CASTLEMAINE
An exciting half marathon through some of Central Victoria’s finest countryside. From dense woodland to open paddocks following the route of the historic Goldfields Steam Train on well made fire trails and paths.
An undulating (but net downhill!) course that takes you point to point from Maldon to Castlemaine alongside the picturesque Victorian Goldfields Railway trail. This is not your typical half marathon. It is an adventure within itself.
The course sets off from the quaint Maldon station (1) and heads out along Hornsby Street (2), crossing the Bendigo-Maldon road and making its way down to the edge of the peaceful Muckleford Nature Reserve (keep your eyes peeled for wallabies and wild flowers!) and the start of the railway track. This section of the run is gently downhill and gives the chance to get into a great rhythm early on. You will then turn right and continue on the Tatt Town track (3) as the course climbs gently through vast woodland.
A left-hand turn into Smiths Reef Track (4) precedes a short, sharp uphill pinch, followed by a welcome 4 km descent as you head out of the bushland and into the wide open farmland areas of Muckleford, via the Gowar Track (5) and finally re-joining the Railway Track (6). This continues to the midway point at Muckleford Station (7). This is the lowest part of the course, with an altitude of 276m above sea level. Toilets and water are available here as you get set for the back half of your run.
Now the course takes you through delightful open paddocks with expansive views, the railway line never far out of sight, and begins to climb again gently through more open woodland. A switchback takes you around a deep gully with views of the Sawmill Road rail bridge (8), the start of the last section of the course and the penultimate climb. You will turn left onto the railway track once again for a short few hundred metres, then cross the tracks to the left and head up through the centre track and the lovely Walmer Forest (Reptiles are often seen sunning themselves on the centre track. Keep your eyes open!). Once you crest the top of the final climb up the centre track, you will turn right and commence the fastest finish Castlemaine offers.
Turning right and setting foot on the bitumen for the first time, the run will head down Muckleford Castlemaine Road and then Mary Street (turn your head to the right and you will see Dhelkaya Health. The very reason we do this run!) into the back of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, over the bridge to cross the creek, then our super course marshall’s will guide you to turn right, and head for the southern gates of the Gardens.
After crossing Walker Street, it is all eyes for Camp Reserve, and the finish line is only 1 km away! A fast, flat finish down the wide road of Gingell Street. You will enter the northern gates of Camp Reserve, before looping around onto the oval and heading for a finishing shoot where you can soak in your achievements and be cheered on by family and friends.
NOTE — CURRENT GPX FILE HERE WILL BE UPDATED SOON
Download GPX File
10 km Run
WALMER FOREST
A challenging 10 km run that has a tough first half (but lots of lovely surroundings to distract you!) and a super speedy back end. A 10km run and a local bushland tour all in one.
Starting at Camp Reserve (1), you will head out along the wide access of Gingell Street (2) with Barkers Creek to your right. Crossing Walker Street, you will run along a grand oak-lined lane to the right of the commonly known Sunken Oval (3). This marks the 1 km point. You will then enter the beautiful Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, crossing via the Doran Street foot bridge that crosses Barkers Creek.
Our splendid marshals will guide you left after a couple hundred metres, then back again and over the second (white) bridge on your left (1.2km). You have now entered the local flora and fauna reserve (4), the home of the Eltham Copper Butterfly.
You will bear left as you climb the rocky and steep ascent. Marshalls will guide you to the left onto Mary Street. Mary Street winds around the hill, then into a lovely downhill dip (5) as you head towards the Pony Club. Crossing Richards Road, you will test your fitness climbing up to the top of the hill for the 4 km mark, turning left (6) and left again through a drink station and along the gravel Boundary Road that skirts the Walmer Forest. Following this for 1km, you will run through springtime bushland before turning into Centre Road as the course merges with the half marathon course. There will be a Marshall here cheering you on.
Less than 1km back up centre road, you will emerge onto Castlemaine Muckleford Road, where you can run down that marvellous hill back across Richards Road, up Mary Street, and back into the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.
This time, a Marshal will direct you to take the left track down the hill, across the Barkers Creek bridge, and then stay on the right of the track. You will join the 5km runners and exit through the Walker Street gate. Once across Walker Street, you can finish strongly down Gingell Street and back into the Camp Reserve for drinks, burgers, and a strong sense of achievement having completed the 10km at Grainger Legal Run the Maine.
5 km Run / Walk
BOTANICAL GARDENS RETURN*
A fast and almost flat 5 km out and back run that takes in Castlemaine’s historic botanical gardens.
This flat short course starts at Camp Reserve and heads 1km along the pretty Gingell Street pathway to the famous Castlemaine Botanical gardens, with Barkers Creek1 never far out of sight.
The run crosses Walker Street, you’ll see our local hospital2 up on the hill to your left as you travel along an oak lined land before turning right and crossing Barkers Creek for the first time.
Upon entering the gardens at about 2 km you will turn a sharp left then continue clockwise around the perimeter of the gardens to take in highlights such as the ‘tree of the year 2021’, a 159-year-old English oak that grows next to the children’s playground. You will also go past the old foundry3 on your left as you begin to head south again. At the 3 k mark you will have run under the Wisteria Arbour and will head to your right again to complete a lap of Lake Johanna4.
Leaving the park (3.8km), you will see the old woollen mill5, (The Mill) which has now been repurposed as a small business, foodies and art precedent. Now just back across Walker street and 1km down Gingell, to go back to Camp reserve. Well done.
*course start & finish subject to change
