Find your nearest sand dunes

Here are some of the best dune areas around town.

The north end has steep, difficult dunes with loose, powdery sand. The summit has great views across Pittwater and back towards Palm Beach, which is considered “the jewel of the Northern beaches”. About an hour’s drive from Sydney CBD.

These may not be the tallest dunes, but they are steeped in history. Here legendary running coach Percy Cerutty set up the grandly named International Athletic Centre from his nearby shack. Portsea is 100 kilometres from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula.

Main Beach on North Stradbroke stretches for 32 kilometres of unspoilt sand, dunes and surf. Make a day trip of it with a running group by taking the car ferry from Raby Bay, near Brisbane.

At 30 metres tall, these dunes rise above the surrounding bushland to provide a great view along the 32 kilometre-long Stockton Beach (just north of Newcastle). Cut out the ocean in the background and it looks like you could be in the Sahara. Easy road access.

The small town of Lancelin, 94 kilometre north of Perth, is bordered by endless snow-white sand dunes that often hit a 45-degree angle. Time your run to end at dusk for a stunning sunset panorama of Lancelin, surrounding farmland, sand hills and coastline.

Less than six kilometres from Hobart International Airport, the towering dunes at the point between Seven Mile and Five Mile beaches are for dune running dare-devils. The fine pristine sand is soft and shock absorbing – perfect for long hill sprints.

This is the ultimate in dune busting. The Te Paki Sand Dunes, a five hour drive north of Auckland, are a spectacular sight reaching up to heights of 100 metres. Ideal for a weekend training session, these spectacular sand dunes are pushed up to five kilometres inland by the strong winds blowing from the Tasman sea.