On Sunday 9 August, 90,000 runners will pour down William Street, through the Kings Cross Tunnel and along New South Head Road on their way to Bondi — and the whole spectacle passes right through our neighbourhood. The Voltaren City2Surf is the world’s largest fun run, now in its 56th year, and whether you’re running it, cheering it or just trying to get to brunch, race day goes a lot smoother with a local’s game plan.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The route through the east
The race starts near Hyde Park, with runners released in waves from 7:35am. From there the course drops down William Street, funnels through the Kings Cross Tunnel, then follows Bayswater Road and New South Head Road through Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay and Rose Bay before tackling the infamous Heartbreak Hill and rolling on to the finish at Bondi Beach. The last runners cross the line by 2pm.
In other words: the first few kilometres happen on our doorstep, and the atmosphere in the early morning is genuinely great — costumes, charity runners, elite athletes and everyone in between.
Road closures: what locals need to know
This is the part that catches people out every year, so plan ahead:
- Both sides of William Street and New South Head Road — from College Street in the city all the way to Dover Road in Rose Bay — close from 1am to around midday, along with sections of local streets in Darlinghurst.
- Roads around Hyde Park near the start close from as early as 3:30am.
- Roads between the city and Edgecliff close from 6am, and between Double Bay and North Bondi from 7am.
- City roads reopen first around 11:30am, with the Eastern Suburbs reopening progressively through the afternoon.
- Special event clearways apply on both sides of the course and on surrounding streets — and they’re strict. Cars left in signposted clearways get towed, so check the signs on Saturday night, not Sunday morning.
The short version: don’t plan to drive anywhere near the course on Sunday morning, and move the car off surrounding streets the night before. Full closure details are on the Transport for NSW event page.
The best local viewing spots
The beauty of living in the east is that you don’t need to trek to Bondi to see the action. The William Street stretch, just after the start, is where the field is at its most tightly packed and the energy is highest — grab a coffee and find a spot along the footpath from about 7:30am. The top of Bayswater Road, where runners emerge from the Kings Cross Tunnel, is another great vantage point, and Rushcutters Bay gives you the field spread out along the waterfront with room to move.
If you’re cheering for someone specific, the early kilometres are your best chance to actually spot them — by Rose Bay the field stretches for kilometres.
Where to brunch once the runners pass
By mid-morning the crowd thins and the neighbourhood cafes hit their stride. The smart move is to watch the race locally, then walk to brunch while everyone else is stuck on the far side of the closures. Llankelly Place and Macleay Street are ideal — close to the course, but not on it — and by the time you’ve finished your eggs, the roads will be reopening.
If you’re a runner, note that your race bib doubles as free public transport on the day, so the train home from Bondi Junction won’t cost you anything.
One of the great Sydney days
The City2Surf is one of those events that briefly turns the whole east into one long street party, and the start of the course is arguably the best part of it — all the energy, none of the Bondi crush. Set an alarm, grab a coffee, and enjoy having the world’s biggest fun run pass through the neighbourhood.
For more local know-how, take a look at 10 things we love about Potts Point, or browse the rest of our local guides.