Public Transport
The best way for participants and volunteers to get to the start line at Bradfield Park, Milsons Point and back home again is by public transport – it’s included in your event entry. Plenty of extra trains and buses will run on the day so leave the car at home. Visit transportnsw.info for all the details you need to plan your trip.
To make the event a safe and successful one, significant road closures will be in place from 4am along the course, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and other major roads.
The city will be no place for cars while the event is underway so the easiest way to get around will be by public transport. See below for detailed road closure and clearway information.
Travel to and from the event on the following public transport services is covered for 2023 Sydney Marathon participants and volunteers:
- Sydney Metro North West Services
- Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services (bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations)*
- Metropolitan and regional bus services
- Sydney Ferries and Newcastle Ferries
- Sydney and Newcastle Light rail services
*Note: an additional station access fee applies for travel to and from Domestic and International airport stations and is not covered by 2023 Sydney Marathon travel entitlements.
Getting to and from the event
Train
The closest station to the start line at Bradfield Park is Milsons Point on the T1 North Shore Line.
Trains on the T1 North Shore Line run every 5-10 minutes. Trains to the city run every 10 to 15 minutes on most lines. From Central Station (Platform 16) additional early-morning services will run to Milsons Point every 5 minutes from 5am until 9am.
After the event, the closest stations to the finish areas are Circular Quay, Wynyard & Martin Place.
Visit transportnsw.info for all the details you need to plan your trip.
Light Rail
Sydney Light Rail services run in the city, south east and inner west. L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford services to the city run regularly on weekends where you can connect with T1 North Shore Line train services from Central. L1 Inner West Light Rail services run regularly to Central where you can also change for trains. Please note, L2 and L3 services will not run between Central and Circular Quay until around 11.30am.
Bus
The closest bus stop to the start line is at North Sydney due to early morning closures in Milsons Point for the event. Additional early morning services will run on selected routes.
From the City or North Sydney change for a train to Milsons Point to get to the start line at Bradfield Park, or you can consider walking instead.
Buses will be diverting, terminating early or using different stops while roads are closed for the event. Depending on which run you enter and when you leave the city, your journey home may still be affected as some roads remain closed until 1:30pm so plan ahead.
Visit transportnsw.info for all the details you need to plan your trip.
Ferry
Ferries can be very popular and may reach capacity, particularly on weekends so consider the other available transport options. Keep in mind that early morning ferries are very limited early Sunday’s and depending on which run you enter you may not be able to catch a ferry to Milsons Point so plan ahead.
Visit transportnsw.info for all the details you need to plan your trip.
Road closures and parking restrictions
Road closures
Significant road closures and widespread special event clearways will be in place from as early as 4am on Sunday 17 September in Milsons Point, the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont, and Moore Park.
Major Road Closures
*subject to change
- 4am to 11am – Sydney Harbour Bridge, Milsons Point & Darlinghurst: full closure of the Harbour Bridge including the Cahill Expressway and all on-ramps. Southbound traffic will be diverted via the Harbour Tunnel. In Milsons Point, Alfred St South, Lavender St, Middlemiss St, Broughton St and Olympic Dr will close. In Darlinghurst, Oxford St and Flinders St will be closed.
- 4am to 11.30am – Sydney CBD & Circular Quay: George St, Bridge St, College St, Macquarie St, Hunter St, Phillip St and Young St. Macquarie St north of Bridge St remains closed until 12pm.
- 4am to 12pm – Barangaroo, Western Distributor Pyrmont to CBD: all citybound traffic on the Anzac Bridge will be diverted into the city via the Bathurst St off-ramp. No direct access between the Anzac Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge until 12pm. The Pyrmont St on-ramp will remain closed until 12:30pm. Sections of Sussex St will also close.
- 4am to 12.30pm – Pyrmont: Pirrama Rd, Murray St, Bowman St, Union St and local roads. The northern end of Pirrama Rd will be closed from 1am.
- 4am to 1.30pm – The Rocks & Millers Point: Hickson Rd from George St to Barton St, Circular Quay West and Loftus St.
- 5:30am to 11am – Moore Park: Lang Rd, Moore Park Rd and sections of South Dowling St. No access to the Entertainment Quarter via Anzac Pde, access via Oxford St only. Eastern Distributor Bondi exit will be closed 7am to 9am. Centennial Park will be closed to all vehicles and cyclists from 4am to 11am.
Parking Restrictions
Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect on major roads along and surrounding the course from 1am in Milsons Point, the city and Pyrmont and from 4am in Darlinghurst and Moore Park.
- Milsons Point & Kirribilli: clearways will be in effect from 1am to 11:30am.
- Sydney CBD, Circular Quay and The Rocks: clearways will be in effect from 1am to 11:30am.
- Dawes Point, Millers Point and Barangaroo: clearways will be in effect from 1am to 1.30pm.
- Moore Park & Darlinghurst: clearways will be in effect from 4am to 11am.
- Pyrmont & Ultimo: clearways will be in effect from 1am to 12.30pm.
For a detailed list of the special event clearway locations including downloadable maps and real-time traffic conditions, visit Live Traffic NSW.
Clearways are strict no parking zones and apply even to residents with local parking permits or TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully on the day and the night before as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies.
