Sydney's favourite outdoor art exhibition returns to the beautiful coastal walkway between
Bondi and
Tamarama beaches this November. Celebrating its 15th anniversary,
Sculpture by the Sea grows bigger and better with every year and is once again expected to draw huge crowds.
This year's exhibition will feature over 100 sculptures by Australian and overseas artists. Expect some works to provoke a chuckle, others to be grand and imposing and many that will make you look at the world in a different way. Sculpture by the Sea remains one of Sydney's most popular cultural gatherings and what started in Bondi in 1996 has spread globally with similar events now held in
Perth and
Aarhus, Denmark.
The most common way to experience Sculpture by the Sea is to walk south from Bondi to Tamarama. The event starts at the end of Notts Avenue, which branches off from Campbell Parade, Bondi's main drag. Head past the
Icebergs swimming pool until the road finishes. At the entrance you can buy a programme, which is handy for orientation and learning more about the sculptures.
As the path winds its way around the cliffs, the first sculptures begin appearing. As well as appreciating the works framed by the ocean, be sure to check the cliff side of the pathway for hard to spot works. Eventually you will reach Marks Park, which is usually the setting for some of the larger and more spectacular pieces of art. Marks Park also has a cafe and is a good spot for a breather.
Further south along the path, the small cove of Mackenzies Bay is another great setting and in recent years has hosted a number of whimsical pieces. Look along the sandstone cliffs or the grassy slopes of Gaerloch Reserve to see the best ones. The exhibition finishes at Tamarama Beach, where the sand is usually dotted with larger-scale, highly-imaginative sculptures.
To explore Sculpture by the Sea properly, allow at least one hour to complete the walk. Weekends, especially sunny hot ones, see Sydneysiders descend en masse to the event, so if you really want to spend some time appreciating the artworks, visit during a weekday or an early evening when the crowds are not as thick on the ground. Remember also to bring plenty of water and whatever you do, don't forget to slip, slop, slap.
To get to Sculpture by the Sea, take a 380 bus from the city or Bondi Junction and alight on Campbell Parade near Notts Ave. Alternatively, you can catch a 361 from Bondi Junction to Tamarama which will deposit you at various points close to the exhibition. Driving is possible, but fraught with hazards such as over-zealous parking inspectors - it's much easier catching the bus. For bus information, see
sydneybuses.info.
