Challenge Canberra
About the race
Challenge Canberra offers athletes a unique racing experience in Australia’s capital on 22 November 2026, set among lakeside scenery, open roads, and iconic national landmarks. The course features calm waters, rolling bike terrain, and a fast, spectator-friendly run, creating a rewarding test of endurance and pacing in ideal cool-season racing conditions.
5 Reasons to Race Challenge Canberra:
- The cycle course has everything: fast sections, flats, climbs, and undulations.
- Cycle and run near iconic Australian landmarks.
- The run course is a scenic route through Commonwealth Park and around the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, passing the Captain Cook Fountain and the Carillon.
- Spectator-friendly layout allows supporters to watch the swim from the foreshore, see athletes on the bike, and catch multiple run loops.
- A large one-lap swim course in clear, protected waters.
Race Distances & Categories:
- Middle Distance (Tri Together option available): 2 km swim / 80 km bike / 18 km run
- Standard Distance (Tri Together option available): 1.5 km swim / 40 km bike / 10 km run
- Sprint Distance: 750 m swim / 20 km bike / 5 km run
- Aqua Bike: 2 km or 1.5 km swim / 80 km or 40 km bike
- Junior Challenge: Kids' swim-run / aquathlon
How to Get There
Canberra is easy to reach by air, road, or rail. Canberra Airport offers direct flights from major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. By road, it’s about a three-hour drive from Sydney and seven hours from Melbourne.
What your entry includes
The course
Swim: 1-lap course in protected waters off Black Mountain Peninsula. Bike: 80km redesigned aero-friendly course featuring flat sections, climbs, and undulation. Run: Scenic, fast course along lakeside pathways through Commonwealth Park and around Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin.
Swim Course
A 2km swim in the protected waters off Black Mountain Peninsula — ideal for a fast, controlled, and confidence-building start. The foreshore provides outstanding vantage points, creating an energising atmosphere for both athletes and spectators.
Bike Course
The redesigned 80km course is engineered for speed, rhythm, and smooth riding. This is a pure triathlon bike course — aero-friendly, exciting, and consistently quick, offering a balanced test for all athletes.
Run Course
The run course showcases the very best of Canberra’s lakeside pathways. It passes through Commonwealth Park and around Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, running past the Captain Cook Fountain and the Carillon. It’s a beautiful, confidence-boosting run route — ideal for making a final surge to the line.
Location
City insight: Canberra
Canberra is Australia's planned capital, built around Lake Burley Griffin, with wide parks, bushland reserves and a large network of running and cycling paths. The climate is continental for Australia: summers (December to February) are warm to hot and dry, autumn (March to May) is crisp with golden leaves, winters (June to August) are cold with frosty mornings, and spring (September to November) is mild with changeable weather. Autumn and spring are the best seasons for racing, with cool, clear mornings. The city is about three hours by road from Sydney and has its own airport.