Australia’s biggest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition is the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, held in Sydney and Perth. This event, which started at Bondi Beach in 1997, showcases sculptures created by artists from both Australia and other countries. Sculpture by the Sea is a spectacular 2km coastal walk with more than 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world.
Free app & map tour
You can download the free app from the official Sculpture by the sea website to navigate around the exhibitions and discover details about the artworks, and the talented artists who created them. Audio tours of some of the sculptures in the exhibition will be available via a small donation.
A map is also available on the website to plan your trip. Blue is an easy track for people not comfortable with stairs or walking distance. Red is a more challenging track for people comfortable with stairs and walking over 1km. Links of the map and app are in the description or comments below this video.
Paths to view sculptures
Some possible paths are: you can start from Bondi near the Bondi Icebergs, this is the start of the exhibition, then take the coastal walk towards Marks Park with the main Gallery, then all the way to Tamarama Beach. The 2nd path is to start right from Marks Park. This park also has the Sculpture Gallery where you can view mini versions of the sculptures, then either head down towards Bondi or Tamarama. Or you can start from Tamarama towards Marks Park and then Bondi to finish your trip with a nice swim at Bondi beach or enjoy fabulous food here.
The red track includes several stairs and is not very pram or wheelchair friendly.
How to get there?
The best way to get there is by public transport as parking is limited and heavy traffic is expected during the event. There will be an estimated half a million visitors over the 18 days of the exhibitions. You can catch the buses or trains from the city to Bondi Junction and buses from Bondi Junction to Bondi Beach. You can also try to visit during weekdays to avoid crowds.
There are information booths. You can buy Sculpture by the Sea booklets for $12 with detailed explanations about the event, sculptures and artists.
Food
There are two cafes along the coastal walk where you can pick up a delightful range of snacks and refreshments. Or you can find several bars, cafes and restaurants at Bondi Beach.
There are some rest areas and water refill stations along the paths. There are some playgrounds too for children if they’re too tired from walking.
I started my track at The gallery at Marks Park to view mini versions of all the sculptures. You can purchase them too. Marks Park is the most accessible for wheelchairs, prams or people with difficulty. This park also displays many beautiful sculptures, especially the Award Winning Sculpture of this year’s event.
The exhibition starts at Bondi Beach near the iconic Bondi Icebergs pool.
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