At a glance
- When
- Friday 16 October to Monday 2 November 2026
- Where
- The Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk
- Best way in
- Public transport: T4 train to Bondi Junction, then a bus to the beach; or route 333 from the city
- Extra buses
- Route 381 loop (Bondi Junction to Tamarama) daily 9:15am to 6:50pm; route 380 about every 10 minutes; route 362 on weekends
- Parking
- Very limited; expected to reach capacity early on weekends. Special event clearways on the three weekends.
- City Circle
- No trains on the City Circle on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, but trains still run between the City and Bondi Junction
- Payment
- Opal card or contactless card; tap on and off
The best way to get to Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi is public transport, according to Transport for NSW and the organisers: take a T4 train to Bondi Junction and change for a bus to the beach, or take route 333 from the city. Around 450,000 people are expected over the 18 days from Friday 16 October to Monday 2 November 2026, and parking is very limited.
The exhibition stretches along the 2km coastal walk between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach, and you can begin at either end. This guide covers getting there and home, parking, clearways and road closures, using the Transport for NSW event page and the organisers’ getting there page, both read on Wednesday 21 October.
How do I get to Bondi by train or metro?
The closest station to Bondi Beach is Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line. From Bondi Junction, regular route buses run to the beach, and Transport for NSW says to expect bus queues, particularly on weekends. T4 trains to Bondi Junction run from Central, Town Hall or Martin Place, which the page describes as a faster trip than the route 333 bus from the city.
- Metro: change at Martin Place to connect with buses towards Bondi Beach or trains to Bondi Junction, then shuttle buses to the beach.
- Light rail: change at Central or Wynyard to connect with T4 trains from Martin Place to Bondi Junction. From the L1 line, change at Central for T4 trains.
- Ferry: take a ferry to Circular Quay and change for a route 333 bus to Bondi Beach, or take a train to Bondi Junction and then a bus.
- Walking: the organisers suggest considering a walk from Bondi Junction if you are comfortable with the distance, which may help you avoid bus queues.
What about the City Circle closure on 24 and 25 October?
Transport for NSW says major trackwork on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October affects the City Circle and the line between Central and Wynyard, and that trains continue to run between the City and Bondi Junction. Our guide to the City Circle closure from 23 to 25 October sets out the changes line by line.
Which buses run to Bondi and Tamarama?
| Route | What Transport for NSW and the organisers say |
|---|---|
| 333 | Circular Quay to Bondi Beach via Bondi Junction, stopping along Elizabeth Street at Martin Place, St James and Museum, then via Oxford Street. Frequent daily services. |
| 381 | Additional Bondi Junction to Tamarama loop services run daily from 9:15am to 6:50pm. |
| 380 | Watsons Bay to Bondi Junction via Military Road. Additional services between Bondi Junction and North Bondi run about every 10 minutes from 10am to 5pm. |
| 360 | North Clovelly to Bondi Junction. Change at Bondi Junction for buses to the beach. |
| 362 (weekends only) | Coogee to Bondi Beach via Bronte and Tamarama. Additional services every 15 minutes from 10am to 6pm. |
Transport for NSW says frequent additional buses operate during the exhibition between Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach, Coogee and Tamarama. It adds that Bondi is typically very busy on weekends and suggests visiting on a weekday to avoid the largest crowds.
Getting home
- From Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach: route 333 to Bondi Junction and the city, including Circular Quay, frequently on weekdays and weekends. Route 380 runs to Bondi Junction and Watsons Bay, with additional North Bondi to Bondi Junction services about every 10 minutes from 1:13pm to 7:23pm.
- From Marine Drive at Tamarama Beach: route 381 to Bondi Junction daily from 9:15am to 6:50pm, and route 362 to Coogee via Bronte on weekends, every 15 minutes between 10am and 6pm.
Can I park near the exhibition?
Transport for NSW says parking at Bondi Beach will be in high demand and is expected to reach capacity early on weekends, and it strongly encourages visitors to leave the car at home. Special event clearways apply on three weekends: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, and Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November.
| Clearway | Times |
|---|---|
| Bondi Road between Old South Head Road and opposite Sandridge Street (northern side) | 7am to 2pm |
| Bondi Road between Sandridge Street and Oxford Street (southern side) | 12pm to 7pm |
| Campbell Parade between Queen Elizabeth Drive and Beach Road (eastern side) | 8am to 4pm |
Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types and apply even to local residents and Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Vehicles left there will be towed to the nearest legal parking space and a fee applies. Use the Find My Car website or call 132 701 to find a towed vehicle.
Which roads are closed or one-way?
Transport for NSW says significant delays are expected on weekends along Bondi Road, Old South Head Road and Syd Einfeld Drive approaching Bondi Beach, and that local roads around Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama will be closed each day. Vehicle access for local residents is maintained, with traffic controllers on site.
| Times | Closed roads |
|---|---|
| 7:30am Friday 16 October to 6:30pm Monday 2 November | Carlisle Street from Silva Street to the end; Fletcher Street from Sandridge Street to Marks Lane; Kenneth Street from Alexander Street to Marks Lane |
| 7:30am to 6:30pm daily | Notts Avenue from Campbell Parade to the end; Rowland Avenue between Fletcher Street and Wilga Street; Silva Street from Fletcher Street to the end; Wilga Street from Sandridge Street (both ends) |
| 10am Friday 16 October to 6:30pm Monday 2 November | Ashley Street from Turner Street to the end; Bayview Street from Bronte Marine Drive to the end; Darling Street eastbound from Alfred Street to Ashley Street; Illawong Avenue from Farrellys Avenue to the end |
| 10am Friday 16 October to 7pm Monday 2 November | Birrell Street eastbound from Tamarama Street to Cross Street |
| 7:30am to 6:30pm on weekend days (17-18, 24-25 and 31 October to 1 November) | Wolaroi Crescent from Thompson Street to the end |
Several roads are one-way only for the duration, including Dellview Street (northbound only), Gaerloch Avenue (southbound only), Thompson Street (westbound only) and Marks Lane (southbound only), plus Bayview Street (northbound only from 7:30am to 6:30pm daily), Mirimar Avenue (northbound only) and Turner Street (westbound only). The Sculpture by the Sea map (PDF) on the Transport for NSW page shows the closures.
What about taxis, rideshare and paying for travel?
Heavy traffic is expected along Bondi Road and other major roads approaching the beach, particularly on weekends. Transport for NSW says to consider pick-up and drop-off locations away from the beach. A permanent taxi rank is located at Bondi Junction, and other rank locations are on the Waverley Council website.
You need an Opal card or a contactless card or device to travel, and Transport for NSW says to register your details ahead of time. Adult Opal fares and Opal benefits, including daily and weekly caps, apply. Top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid queues at top-up machines. Our guide to Opal fares has the current caps.
Sources
- Transport for NSW — Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026 (buses, clearways, road closures; read 21 October 2026)
- Sculpture by the Sea — Getting there (organisers; read 21 October 2026)
Featured image: a sculpture at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, in 2019 (photo: MDRX / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Sculpture by the Sea, Waverley Council or Transport for NSW. Services, closures and clearways can change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.