Sculptures by the Sea, Bondi — the World's Largest Free Sculpture Exhibition

Every October, the coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Tamarama transforms into the world's largest free public sculpture exhibition. For three weeks, more than 100 works by Australian and international artists line the clifftop track — installed on the grass, wedged into rock platforms, perched above the water and scattered across Tamarama Beach itself.

Entry is free. The walk is approximately two kilometres return and takes between one and two hours depending on how long you spend with each work.

What to Expect

The exhibition draws artists from across Australia and internationally — recent years have included work from more than a dozen countries. The scale and ambition of the pieces varies considerably, from intimate works tucked into the landscape to large-scale installations that stop people mid-track.

The 2024 exhibition gave a sense of what the event can produce. Among the standouts were a stainless steel rocket ship just over eight metres tall occupying one of the most prominent positions on the walk, a reclining King Kong by Denis Defrancesco that became an immediate crowd favourite, and a granite work by Professor Shen Lieyi that took the Aqualand Sculpture Award — a $100,000 prize for the exhibition's best work.

Two pieces on Tamarama Beach addressed skin cancer with unexpected directness — one a black fabric sculpture that changed shape to suggest a melanoma, another an arrangement of toast referencing the risks of sun exposure. A shark emerging from a peeled banana skin generated reliably double-takes. A white spaceman by the artist Malarky perched above Tamarama, its statement being that humanity's failure to care for the earth makes the species destined to return to nomadism.

Not every work is weighty. Many are playful, some are quietly beautiful, and a few are simply strange. That range is part of what makes the walk worth doing.

When It Runs

Sculptures by the Sea runs for three weeks from mid to late October each year, finishing in early November. Exact dates vary annually — check the official Sculptures by the Sea website for current year dates and times.

Getting There and When to Visit

The walk starts near the Icebergs Club at the southern end of Bondi Beach and follows the coastal path to Tamarama. Parking at Bondi is limited and difficult during the exhibition — public transport is strongly recommended. The 333 and 380 buses run from the city to Bondi Beach.

Weekends during the exhibition are very crowded, particularly in the middle of the day. Early morning or late afternoon visits are considerably more enjoyable — the light is better for photography and the crowds are thinner. Weekdays are quieter throughout.

Visiting with Sydney Nimble Tours

Sculptures by the Sea is a natural addition to our Bondi and Eastern Suburbs Private Tour during October and early November. The timing works well — the coastal walk is a highlight of the tour year-round, and the exhibition adds another layer to an already excellent stretch of coastline. Ask Greg when planning your tour if you'd like to include it.

Bondi Beach & Sydney Eastern Suburbs Private Tour >>>

The Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk during Sculptures by the Sea — works installed along the clifftop track above the Pacific

The stainless steel rocket — at just over eight metres one of the most prominent works in the 2024 exhibition

One of the more affecting works on the 2024 walk — a hyper-realistic figure set against the open ocean

Shark emerging from a peeled banana skin sculpture on the Bondi coastal walk, Sculptures by the Sea 2024

The exhibition setting — Bondi Beach stretching north behind a sculpture on the clifftop track