Here is definitive list of Sydney walking events 2021. It’s an event calendar of challenge walks in Sydney and surrounds, including Wollongong and the Central Coast.
Whilst all are challenging, some are true long distance charity walks, with a few 50km or 100km walks for charity.
We update this walking events calendar throughout the year, so depending when you're reading we will have 2022 events listed too as new dates are announced.
You'll find something to suit everybody, from virtual pedometer walking events to overnight challenges. Running events are included only if they offer entries especially for walkers.
Walking Events Calendar
The Sun Run
2022 date to be announced. Usually early February.
- Location: Dee Why to Manly Beach.
- Distance: 7km and 10km solo or team.
- Cost: $30-$60 per adult.
- Supporting: Participants can fundraise for one of over 1100 registered charities across NSW.
- Read more and register.
65K For 65 Roses
2022 date to be announced. Usually late February.
- Location: The Bay Run, Leichhardt Park, Rozelle
- Distance: Choose between 7km, 21km, 35km, 42km or 65km walk. Solo or team.
- Cost: $30 – $80 per adult. $135 – $180 for families.
- Supporting: Cystic Fibrosis NSW and The Children’s Hospital, Westmead.
- Read more and register.
Great Illawarra Walk
2022 date to be announced. Usually mid-March.
- Location: Shellharbour to Austinmer.
- Distance: Any distance up to 40km. Solo or team.
- Cost: $40 per adult and $20 per child.
- Supporting: Finding a cure for Vanishing White Matter Disease
- Read more and register.
Coastrek
Friday 19 March 2021
- Location: Palm Beach / South Curl Curl Beach / Balgowlah to Mosman
- Distance: 15km, 30km & 60km events. 4 person team (50% women).
- Cost: $87 – $234 per person Minimum $2000 fundraising commitment per team.
- Supporting: BeyondBlue, support for mental wellbeing.
- Read more and register.
MS Walk, Run + Roll
Sunday 11 April 2021
- Location: Pyrmont.
- Distance: 4km or 8km.
- Cost: Early Bird: $45 Adult, $25 Child. Standard: $55 Adult, $35 Child. People living with multiple sclerosis receive free entry.
- Supporting: Funding services and support for people living with multiple sclerosis.
- Read more and register.
Mothers Day Classic
Sunday 9 May 2021
- Location: Four Sydney locations including Blacktown, Drummoyne, Phillip Bay and Abbotsbury.
- Distance: 5km, 10km and 20km walk (and run). Solo or group.
- Cost: Early bird: $50 adults. Standard: $63. Concession, child and family entries available.
- Supporting: National Breast Cancer Foundation, for the prevention and cure of breast cancer.
- Read more and register.
Memory Walk and Jog – Western Sydney
Sunday 9 May 2021
- Location: Tench Reserve, Nepean River, Penrith.
- Distance: 2km (walk), 8km (walk/jog), 8km (timed run)
- Cost: $38 per adult, $110 family
- Supporting: Dementia Australia
- Read more and register.
SMH Half Marathon
Sunday 16 May 2021
- Location: College Street to Hyde Park.
- Distance: 21.1 km solo or team.
- Cost: $98-$123, depending on date of registration
- Supporting: Aims to raise $1 million for over 800 charities
- Read more and register.
Walk For Kids With Cancer
Sunday 23 May 2021
- Location: The Rocks to Manly.
- Distance: Choose between 1km, 13km and 27km.
- Cost: Early bird: $30. Standard: $55.
- Supporting: The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Supporting the children’s cancer centre.
- Read more and register.
Memory Walk and Jog – Sydney
Sunday 23 May 2021
- Location: The Bay Run, Leichhardt.
- Distance: 2km (walk), 7.5km (walk/jog)
- Cost: $48 per adult, $140 family
- Supporting: Dementia Australia
- Read more and register.
Five Lands Walk
RESCHEDULED to Saturday 25 September 2021 [Originally scheduled for Saturday 26 June]
- Location:Central Coast – MacMasters Beach to Terrigal Beach, via Copacabana, Avoca Beach and North Avoca
- Distance: 10km
- Cost: Free but must register.
- Supporting: Communities on the Central Coast.
- Read more and register.
Bloody Long Walk – Sydney North
Sunday 18 July 2021
- Location: Palm Beach to Manly.
- Distance: 35km. Solo and group.
- Cost: From $80 individuals
- Supporting: Mito Foundation, to find a cure for mitochondrial disease.
- Read more and register.
Sutherland 2 Surf
Sunday 18 July 2021
- Location: Sutherland to Cronulla.
- Distance: 11km.
- Cost: $55 Adult, $145 Family standard entry. Early Bird rates available.
- Supporting: Wanda Surf Life Saving Club, St Vincent De Paul Society.
- Read more and register.
City 2 Surf
Sunday 8 August 2021
- Location: Hyde Park to Queen Elizabeth Drive.
- Distance: 14 km Solo or Family.
- Cost: $67 Adult, $42 Child, $134 Family
- Supporting: Aims to raise $5 million for over 850 charities.
- Read more and register.
Oxfam Trailwalker
Friday 20 – Sunday 22 August 2021
- Location: Hawkesbury to the Harbour.
- Distance: 100km 4 person teams.
- Cost: From $599 (early bird) – $749 (second release) team registration, plus a minimum fundraising commitment of $1600.
- Supporting: Oxfam Australia, challenging poverty.
- Read more and register.
Unity Walk in the Park
2021 date to be announced. Usually late August.
- Location: Sydney Park, St Peters. Another event in Stuart Park, Wollongong.
- Distance: 2km or 4km walk.
- Cost: $35-$45 adults, $20-$30 children, $10 dogs
- Supporting: Parkinson’s NSW.
- Read more and register.
Beachside Dash
Sunday 12 September 2021
- Location: Sans Souci.
- Distance: 2km, 5km and 10km. Teams or individuals.
- Cost: $10-$50, depending on distance and early bird rates.
- Supporting: St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation; supporting medical research in St George and Sutherland Hospitals.
- Read more and register.
Sydney Running Festival
Sunday 19 September 2021
- Location: Bradfield Park to the Sydney Opera House.
- Distance: 3.5km, 10km, 21km and 42km. Solo or family.
- Cost: From $36 to $170 per adult depending on event length and time of purchase.
- Supporting: 86 charities.
- Read more and register.
Wellness Walk & Festival
2021 date to be announced. Usually mid October.
- Location: Across the Sydney Harbour Bridge or around Royal Botanic Gardens.
- Distance: 2km or 6km.
- Cost: $30 Adults, $25 Concession, $80 Family. Early Bird rates available.
- Supporting: Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc, raising awareness for mental illness.
- Read more and register.
Seven Bridges Walk
Sunday 31 October 2021
- Location: Sydney Harbour (Millers Point, Rozelle, Lane Cove, Wollstonecraft)
- Distance: 28km. Solo or group.
- Cost: $50 Early bird, $70 standard. Children under 16 years old are free.
- Supporting: Cancer Council NSW, tackling cancer in Australia.
- Read more and register.
Walk for Prems
2021 date to be announced. Usually late October.
- Location: Glebe
- Distance: 5km. Solo.
- Cost: $23 Early bird, $27 standard. Children $10/$15. Baby (under 2 years) $5/$8.
- Supporting: Life’s Little Treasures Foundation supporting families of premature and sick babies.
- Read more and register.
Bloody Long Walk – Sydney East
Sunday 14 November 2021
- Location: Malabar to Circular Quay.
- Distance: 35km. Solo and group.
- Cost: From $80 individuals
- Supporting: Mito Foundation, to find a cure for mitochondrial disease.
- Read more and register.
Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge
2021 date to be announced. Usually late October.
- Location: Stanwell Park to Bundeena, Royal National Park.
- Distance: 30km.
- Cost: $250 standard registration, children under 16 $99. And $500 minimum fundraising requirement.
- Supporting: St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation.
- Read more and register.
Walk 4 Brain Cancer
2021 details to be announced. Usually October and November.
- Location: Numerous routes and dates to choose from, including Manly, Centennial Park and Wollongong
- Distance: 5km – 20km.
- Cost: Usually $30, depending on selected walk.
- Supporting: Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, supporting brain cancer research, advocacy and awareness.
- Read more and register.
Sydney Charity Walking Challenges We've Completed
Over the years Ian has completed three Oxfam Trailwalkers, two Michael Tynan Memorial Challenges, two Walk with Lifehouse, Walk for Kids with Cancer, and the Five Lands Walk as his chosen walks for charity.
We've both run, but not walked, the Sutherland 2 Surf and the City 2 Surf.
On each occasion Ian has completed Oxfam Trailwalker, it has been the 100km walk Sydney. This is the only remaining Sydney 100km walks for charity. There are other long distance charity walks, with Coastrek also offering an event of more than 50km.
Location-Free Charity Walks (Even If You're Not in Sydney)
The March Charge
During March
- Location: Anywhere. Anytime.
- Distance: Personal fitness challenge.
- Cost: Sponsorship.
- Supporting: Cancer Council.
- Read more and register.
Walk in Her Shoes
2022 date to be announced.
- Location: No set route. Distance measured by pedometer.
- Distance: 25km / 50km or 100km. Solo or team. (to be confirmed for 2020 event)
- Cost: No minimum fundraising commitment, encouraged to raise between $250-$5,000.
- Supporting: Care Australia, raising funds for impoverished women and girls in developing countries.
- Read more and register.
Steptember
2021 to be announced.
- Location: Anywhere. Anytime.
- Distance: Walk 10,000 steps for 28 days.
- Cost: $25 per adult. $10 for kids.
- Supporting: Cerebral Palsy
- Read more and register.
Below the Belt #YourWay Challenge
1 September – 30 September
- Location: Anywhere. Anytime.
- Distance: As many kilometres as you can.
- Cost: $35 per general registration. $65 for premium.
- Supporting: Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate (ANZUP) Cancer Trials Group (supporting “below the belt” cancer trials)
- Read more and register.
There are plenty more to choose from for walking events 2021 and 2022. What event will you choose for walking for charity?
Who to Walk With?
Nothing beats the camaraderie of a walking event challenge with participants all united towards a common goal.
But who do you walk with if you're not taking part in an event? Here's our guide to walking alone in Sydney, or how to find someone to walk with.
Training for Charity Walking Events
Many charity walking event organisers provide tips for how best to prepare. You may also want to check out the best trekking training locations in and around Sydney if you have a big walk coming up.
