Melbourne leads Compare the Market's 2026 running rankings, with Sydney second in both the Australian and global lists. Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth complete the Australian top five.
Here are the five cities, with local routes and parks to explore in each.
Australia's five best cities for running
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1. Melbourne, Victoria
The report counted 597 trail-running routes listed on AllTrails. Close to the city, the Tan Track makes a 3.8km loop around the Royal Botanic Gardens, with shade and a hill. For a flatter circuit, Albert Park Lake has a 4.9km asphalt loop. Princes Park in Carlton North offers a 3.2km loop on soft gravel.
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2. Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney had 605 listed trail-running routes in the report, slightly more than Melbourne. In Centennial Park, the Grand Drive course follows the inside of the park's 3.5km main road in a continuous loop. The Ponds course is about 5km, running from Loch Avenue to Busbys Pond inside Grand Drive.
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3. Adelaide, South Australia
Adelaide takes third place in the Australian list, ahead of Brisbane. Its University Loop is a 2.2km unpaved circuit near the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari. The oval's open, flat surface suits running, though the council guide notes narrow points and uneven ground. The riverbank is across the road.
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4. Brisbane, Queensland
The report recorded 403 listed trail-running routes in Brisbane. Along the river, the Brisbane Riverwalk links New Farm with the CBD. The rebuilt walkway is 870 metres long and six metres wide. It provides a short riverside section to include in a longer outing, rather than a full running circuit.
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5. Perth, Western Australia
Perth rounds out the Australian top five. Kings Park offers bushland paths above the Swan River, with two-thirds of the park managed as protected bushland. Law Walk follows the Mount Eliza escarpment towards Dryandra Lookout. Visitors must stay on designated paths to protect the bushland.
Where Australia sits in the world ranking
Three Australian cities made the global top five: Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Stockholm placed third and Madrid fifth.
Brisbane ranks fourth globally but behind Adelaide in the Australian list. The lists use different participation figures: national inactivity data for the global comparison and state activity data within Australia.
About the ranking
Compare the Market published the report on 21 January 2026, using data collected by 10 December 2025. Its ten factors include trails, races, air quality, safety, weather, living costs, running-club searches and activity levels.
The trail totals are directory listings, not a count of every place you can run. Before visiting a route, check the linked park or council page for access notices. If you want company, compare nearby running groups and ask the organiser about pace, distance and meeting points.
