Sculpture by the Sea – Bondi Beach

Every year I go to Sculptures and every year I complain about how lame it is and how many people there are. I’ll keep coming back every year because I’m a sucker like all the other out there. I know nothing of art and culture but there are always sculptures that I adore every year.

This is a five star thing. Because I’ve never seen such thing that includes art, the best ocean view and good weather, nature. And it’s free! Get your bikini on, put on sun glasses and take your camera. It’ll be an amazing day at Bondi.

Great idea to get people out and about. It’s a beautiful coastal walk with sculptures along the way. It can get quite busy on the weekend so if you get a chance on a weekday you may have a more comfortable experience. I’ve been a few years in a row and some artists product outstanding work. You can buy a brochure as well which can tell you a little bit about some of the artists and their work.

Free stuff is always going to get a five-​star rating from me, especially when it combines art, an amazing ocean view and a vast expanse of land to enjoy it. I know it comes across to Perth as well each year, but it was a real treat to be able to get in early and preview it at the Sydney location. I will be interested to see if all the artworks make it across the Nullabor, because there sure were lots of them.
The funky little shack café set up is also quite amazing on the hill. We don’t get that in Pert. Lucky you.

The walk from Bondi to Tamarama is not to be missed, you will not regret it. Sensational views; some amazing art and well, it’s Bondi. However I recommend to avoid weekends if you don’t like crowd because it is as busy as a public transport on rush hour:)

I timed my visit to Sydney for this event in November 2014 and I did not regret one bit of it.
The coastal walk was simply awesome and as we actually started walking from Coogee to Bondi, we should be tired by the time we got to Tamarama but we were not. I did not realize Tamarama was considered the end of the exhibition but I felt it did not matter much which side you started from.
The 2 km stretch of exhibits between Bondi and Taramara was over very quickly as you marveled at the sculptures. Set against the clear blue sea with frothing waves (at some parts) and beautiful blue sky dotted with some clouds, it was just quite breathtaking.
Just take your time and bask in the beauty all around the place. No rush, no hurry and you will not feel like you are being hemmed in by the crowd. Some parts can be more packed but as long as you are not in a rush, people do give way or move on after a while.
We went on a Friday afternoon so maybe it was not that crowded compared to the weekend.

Location, location, location.
The walk is amazing before anyone adds their art. Zillions of years of wind and ocean waves have already provided stunning sculptures to enjoy.
I lost count of how many pieces were on display, but the catalogue will tell you that. This is the art that I enjoy. Some pieces D & M, and some just joyful!
I expected crowds, and being a Sunday morning I was wise to get there early. Got to say that I’m still wondering about the hundreds of pet dogs. I’m an animal lover and dog is my pet of choice, but why would so many people think that their beautiful (and well behaved) pooch would want to shuffle along in the throng? I feel like a failure as a pet owner now! I denied my dogs art!!!
Back to the sculptures… ‘Twas a good day out!
Tip: walk to a bus stop that’s earlier on your route for a better chance of grabbing a seat. Buses get packed and on a hot day…

We got the chance to do this last November, on the last day of the show. They have installations different parts of the cliff walk, that were very interesting. A lot of crowds there, including several people walking dogs but there was enough room on the walk that we didn’t have problems. Even on a cloudy day after a rainstorm this was a very scenic walk. You can get plenty of pictures out on the rocks, just be careful.
While you are on the walk, make sure to keep a look out for the Aboriginal rock carving that is just north of Tamarama beach.

Went to this as a spur of the moment visit and we weren’t disappointed.
The sun was out and the sea was all angry. The art was engaging.
Was a lovely way to spend 2 hours before going for dinner in the city.

Bondi Beach is one of the most iconic and recognised beaches in the world, and rightly so. You couldn’t hope for a better backdrop for an outdoor sculpture exhibition.
‘Sculpture by the Sea’ is a free event, which makes the most of the world famous scenic coastal backdrop between Bondi and Tamarama beaches, whilst introducing us to interesting and thought provoking large scale sculptural works.
The walk starts from Notts Avenue, off Campbell Parade at Bondi and finishes at Tamarama Park.
So, why not get a little culture along with your suntan and check the exhibition out for yourself? It would be ‘un-​Australian’ not to.

A must see annual exhibition each year which attracts crowds. It’s jam packed on weekends, so if you are planning on taking photos — you will need to be VERY patient,
The best times for photographers, is either early in the morning or probably before it gets dark. Although if you have the means to do so, you should go on a weekday where there isn’t as many people.
Even the walk from Tamarama beach offers nice seaside views, but a word of warning that this is not very children friendly.

To go along with my list of reasons why I love the eastern burbs coast line… this really adds to it.
In November, when it starts getting nice and warm (and hopefully the rain is far away), you can see some amazing sculptures while enjoying the walk between Bondi and Bronte.
The only issue I can see is that there are way too many people who do not understand the idea of «DO NOT TOUCH THE ARTWORK». So parents, please control your kids as some people spent lots of time and money to create the art and make it a yearly activity in Sydney that I look forwards to.

For as long as I can remember one of the only reasons I would ever walk from Bondi to Bronte along the cliff walk was the Sculptures by the sea. It was actually once a really good first date, and is equally a good walk if you go by yourself of with a group of friends.
The walk covers some of the most beautiful coastline that Australia has to offer, and although it was hazy and overcast on the Saturday, It was still a beautifully sunny day, made even better by the interesting art installations that show off Sydney’s creative talent.
Be sure to go early in the morning to avoid the midday sun, as it can also be very very busy here, sometimes even claustrophobic.

It’s hard to imagine the Bondi Tamarama coast scape without this annual cultural transformation adding a splash of artistic colour to that spectacular natural backdrop. The crowds here can get out of control, to the point that there is no movement at certain points of the walk due to the overwhelming number of bodies gettin’ their simultaneous art fix. Weekends are strictly a no go zone for xenophobes. Or prepare to face certain torture. Come here on a scorching hot clear day and prepare to suffer severe sunburn — and the hordes. If you’ve got kids, hold onto them for dear life, or face losing them for good. My educated advice is to get there just post storm or on a miserable rainy day. Don a rain jacket and your galoshes, and marvel at Mother Nature’s finest work. The masses don’t like the rain, but the landscape loves it. You’ll see this famous coastal stretch do things you’ve never seen before… sandstone waterfalls… rainbows… saturated colours. In fact, the absolute ultimate time to get here is post storm at sundown, when the sun’s reflection illuminates Tamarama with a golden orange luminescence worthy of a Taschen book cover.

For anyone who has been to Burning Man in the US there’s that same aspect of art meets earth to Sculpture By Sea — the difference being DO NOT TOUCH signs here. No one pays attention to them anyway and if interactive art works in the Nevada desert I don’t see why it can’t work here?
I love this concept of outdoor art. It attracts a lot of people and gets them into the fresh air. Even with the crowds you can take the time to appreciate each piece (hold on to the balustrade though… it’s a steep fall down the cliff and on a nice weekend it can get pushy). Sculpture By The Sea Bondi style has it’s unique aspects — the rocky cliffs are a neat backdrop for the installations and the steep up and down stair climbs are akin to the Inka Trail so you get your heart pumping while your at it. I’ve been to the on in Perth at Cottesloe Beach and the experience (apart from the crowds) was quite different. There were a couple of the same sculptures but the majority were different. The landscape is dissimilar too of course. I’d like to see sculpture on the beach at Bondi (as they do at the busy Cottesloe).
I did it with a pram. Not recommended unless you have two patient and lovely sidekicks as I did… even then it’s a battle in heat amongst the crowds.

There are few things that could make the coastal cliff walk from Bondi to Coogee much better, but Sculptures by the Sea is definitely one of them. A brilliant, eclectic range of sculptures — some enormous, some fragile, some just totally whacky — it’s a brilliant way to soak up some culture as well as the sun and get out and about. Avoid going on the weekends, as that’s when everyone goes and it’s impossible to get good pictures or a proper look at the sculptures.

Definitely worth a visit on a sunny day– whether you’re a Sydney-​sider or tourist. We took family from Melbourne to Sculpture by the Sea, followed by lunch at The Icebergs and they have been raving about it since! It is a unique exhibition and is definitely worth a visit– whether you go for half an hour or make a day out of it. Located on Bondi Beach, the exhibition starts on Thursday the 3^rd of November and finishes up on Sunday the 20^th of November. The cost is free and features over 100 artworks by Australian and International artists. The walk is 2 km long with a stretch of fabulous artworks from Bondi to Tamarama Beach. There are also free shuttle buses between the two beaches to make the visit more accessible for visitors.

Someone should perhaps question the organisers of Scultures By The Sea regarding their choice of dates. Every year that I have attended, I have snaked my way half-​way along the path before being hit by a freak storm, having to hide beneath a jutting cliff and then making the mad, saturating dash back to the car. Seriously, three years in a row. Although, it has now just struck me that this could be intentional — what better a backdrop for Sydney’s greatest sculpture arts than the wide blue sea, blanketed with heavy grey clouds and pierced with vibrant strikes of lighting.

Aptly named, this festival showcases sculptures along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. The walk is easy but can get a bit long especially if you stop and admire every sculpture and read the detailed descriptions.
If you stare at a sculpture long enough, you may be approached by others asking you the significance, meaning or just your thoughts!
Every year the sculptures seem to get bigger and wider and definitely more creative. If you like human-​made items, you will love this exhibition but even if you prefer natural things, the coastal walk is bound to please you.
Carry water as it’s usually held around the beginning of summer and the 2 km walk could easily become a 4 Km return.
I’d rate this activity in the top 50 things to do in Sydney list.

It makes sense to have this annual sculptural exhibition at Sydney’s most popular tourist beach: Bondi Beach on an annual basis. A must sea (sorry bad pun) event. No doubt this would have to be Australia’s most popular outdoor sculpture festival (although the six feet tall sculptures at the current Melbourne Festival is starting to give this event a run for its money) we might just have to wait and see; and the ‘pilgrimage’ to the cliff top coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama makes this event well worth it. In fact 111 sculptures worth for what its worth. $ 65,000 in prize money is up for grabs for the winner, among other accolades up for grabs. Check it out anytime between the 3^rd to the 20^th of November 2011 for what its worth; otherwise you will just have to wait until next year; where a prominent Australian artist is making his third appearance at this event for 2011.
It was a challenge sourcing an image for the actual event; much easier to take a photo of the key locale that is hosting this popular annual event which has also made its way to the west coast; from what actually started as a one-​day event back in 1997.