The course was presented by Griffith University, a Gold Coast 2018 partner, with claims the route will provide an engaging experience for spectators.

The course will start and finish at Southport Broadwater Parklands, before heading north after 4.4 kilometres at Runaway Bay.

Athletes will then head south, where they will continue to race by the city's beaches and to the half-way point at Burleigh Heads.

They will then turn to head back towards Southport for the finish of the race.

"We are delighted to be able to deliver a spectacular course for the marathon which is one of the iconic events in the history of the Commonwealth Games," said Peter Beattie, Gold Coast 2018 chairman.

"The marathon course is not only flat and conducive to fast racing, it is one of the most picturesque in the world and will showcase the Gold Coast to a global audience of 1.5 billion people."

The marathons will be one of the free events on the Gold Coast 2018 programme, with fans expected to line the course for the duration.

Racing will take place on April 15, the final day of the Games.

Wheelchair marathon competitions will take place at the Commonwealth Games for the first time, with the racers due to start their effort at 6.10am local time.

They will be followed by the women’s marathon nearly an hour later, with the men’s due to go off at 8:15am.

"The wheelchair marathon at these Games presents a first for me as an athlete – in all my years racing around the world this is the first time I get to share the same stage with my able-bodied peers whilst racing in the green and gold for Australia," said Kurt Fearnley, Gold Coast 2018 ambassador and wheelchair racer.

"I love the opportunity of being able to start this race just moments before the able-bodied runners.

"It's been great to see the course developed from grassroots as well as the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes to make this marathon a reality.

"I'm in a privileged position as part of the Gold Coast 2018 sport and technical committee and am now even more excited to get on that starting line."

Gold Coast 2018 state that a comprehensive public awareness programme called Get Set for the Games is being rolled out to residents and businesses.

It is hoped the programme will ensure they know how they can access certain areas at Games time.