Runaway Sydney Half Marathon 2026

Runaway Sydney Half Marathon 2026 participants are entitled to travel to and from the event on Sunday 3 May on the public transport services listed below. Just show your race bib or finishers medal to transport staff when boarding services.

• Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services (non-booked services bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations)*
• Sydney Metro services
• Sydney metropolitan and outer metropolitan buses
• Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle Light Rail services
• Sydney and Newcastle Ferries

Remember to keep your race bib or finishers medal safe for your return journey home, as these are also your ticket to travel on public transport or you'll need to use a valid Opal card/contactless payment method. Your entitlement is valid on public transport services until 4am the next day.

*Note: an additional train station access fee applies for travel to or from Domestic and International Airport stations. The access fee is not covered by your event ticket travel entitlements.

Transport Park&Ride Car Parks

Park for free when you catch public transport. Transport Park&Ride provides up to 18 hours of free parking each day. All you have to do is complete a public transport trip. Located close to public transport hubs, Park&Ride car parks help you connect more easily to train, bus and ferry services. 

Runaway Sydney Half Marathon 2026 participants are entitled to travel on the abovementioned public transport services, which includes free Park&Ride parking. When leaving the car park use the intercom button at the exit gate to speak with the operator and show your event ticket. 

If you use a Transport Connect account to access Park&Ride, the boom gate will automatically open as you leave the car park so you’ll need to request a refund in your account.

Real-time parking availability allows you to see how many vacant car park spaces are available at Transport Park&Ride car parks. For Park&Ride locations and more information on how it works, go to Transport Park&Ride.

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Sydney’s north-west and south-west via the city.    

The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go metro services in both directions between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham. Services start from early morning and will run every 7 minutes until 9.30am. Services will then run every 10 minutes throughout the day.

Martin Place metro station is within short walking distance of the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street. Exit via Hunter Street and continue on foot to the start area. See the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon transport map (pdf 924KB) to find your way to the start line.

For Metro service disruption information, check travel alerts and trackwork or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The closest stations to the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street are Circular Quay, Wynyard and Martin Place. Early-morning trains will start operating from 4.40am depending on the train line.

Planned trackwork is taking place across the network on event day; you may need to catch a replacement bus or change trains to complete your journey depending on where you are travelling from. Plan your trip and see the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon transport map (pdf 924KB) to find your way from key city transport hubs to the start line.

Trackwork 

Planned trackwork is taking place on Sunday 3 May on the following lines and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner. 

• T2 Leppington & Inner West Line: Buses replace trains between Glenfield and Fairfield.
• T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line: Buses replace trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe.
• T5 Cumberland Line: Buses replace trains between Glenfield and Fairfield.
• T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line: Buses replace trains between Bankstown and Lidcombe.
• T8 Airport & South Line: Buses replace trains between Macarthur and Glenfield.
• South Coast Line: Buses replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. For the latest information, check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner.

Regular route buses

Plenty of buses make stops at Circular Quay, Martin Place and Wynyard, which are within short walking distance of the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street. See the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon transport map (pdf 924KB) to find your way to the start line.

Keep in mind that buses will be affected by road closures and will be diverting from their regular routes and using different stops. If you’re catching buses to or from the event, plan ahead to see if your route is affected.

For road closure details, see the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon road closures and clearways map (pdf 2.7MB) or the TfNSW Interactive Map.

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Bus diversions 

Buses to and from the city and Pyrmont will be diverting from their regular routes, terminating early and using different bus stops while road closures are in place for the event. Plan your trip ahead of time to see if your route is affected. 

• More details will be available closer to the event. 

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The closest wharf to the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street is Circular Quay, however Sydney Ferries will operate to a regular Sunday timetable and services don't start running until later in the morning. Catch early morning buses or trains to get to the start line instead.

After the event you can catch a ferry home from Circular Quay, which is about a 20-minute walk from the finish line at The Domain Sydney. 

Sydney Ferries services are very popular and may reach capacity. Have alternative transport options in mind and plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The closest stops to the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street are Bridge Street and Circular Quay on the L2 and L3 lines. 

An additional service light rail service will run on the L2 Line from Randwick at 4.57am, and on the L3 Line from Juniors Kingsford at 4.50am to help you get to the start area in time.

Plan your trip and see the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon transport map (pdf 924KB) to find your way to the start line.

L1 Dulwich Hill Line 

L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Station (Grand Concourse) and Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour and the Inner West. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

At Central, change for an L2 or L3 Line service to the stop at Bridge Street or Circular Quay to get within walking distance of the start line. 

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines 

L2 Randwick light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and L3 Kingsford line services run between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Catch an L2 or L3 line service to the stop at Bridge Street or Circular Quay to get within walking distance of the start line. 

The following additional services will run to get you to the start area:

• An additional L2 Line service will leave Randwick at 4.57am
• An additional L3 Line service will  leave Juniors Kingsford at 4.50am

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line 

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line light rail services run between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta CBD. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Alight at Parramatta Square and connect with a train service to Wynyard or Circular Quay to get within walking distance of the start line. 

Passengers are reminded that trams can’t stop quickly or easily – so please stop, listen and look around for trams and use designated pedestrian crossings.

For maps and service frequencies see light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Major road closures will be in place from 4am in the Sydney CBD, Dawes Point, Millers Point, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Pyrmont. Roads will start to progressively reopen from 9.30am with all roads reopened by 1pm. 

Motorists are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel in the Sydney CBD and Pyrmont areas during the event as delays are expected. Diversions will be in place; if you must drive, allow plenty of extra travel time and follow detour signs.

Key closures:

• Sydney CBD – 4am to 12.30pm: The Cahill Expressway Circular Quay Overpass will be closed in both directions between the Harbour Bridge and Domain Tunnel, including the on and off ramps at Macquarie Street. In the city, Macquarie Street will be closed from Albert Street to Hyde Park, along with sections of Bridge Street, Conservatorium Road, Hunter Street, and Phillip Lane.
  • Motorists should use the Sydney Harbour Tunnel to access the Eastern Distributor while the Cahill Expressway Overpass is closed. All lanes on the Harbour Bridge remain open.
  • Motorists in the city can access the Harbour Bridge via Clarence Street or Kent Street.
  • Motorists can cross Macquarie Street at Shakespeare Place and Bent Street before 5.30am and after 12pm only. After 12pm, there is no access to or from Macquarie Street; access to the Eastern Distributor will be available via William Street.
• Pyrmont, Barangaroo & King Street Wharf – 5am to 10.30am: the Western Distributor will be closed from Pyrmont to the CBD, including the Fig Street and Pyrmont Street on-ramps and the King Street off-ramp. Sections of Sussex Street, Erskine Street, Hickson Road, Kent Street, King Street and other local streets will be closed near King Street Wharf and Barangaroo. Sections of Union Street, Murray Street, Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont Street, Darling Drive and surrounding local roads will be closed in Pyrmont.
• Motorists travelling citybound on the Anzac Bridge will be detoured via the Bathurst Street off-ramp into Kent Street to rejoin the Sydney Harbour Bridge – there is no direct access from the Anzac Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Motorists in Pyrmont travelling to the city or to the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be diverted via Harris Street and local roads.
• Dawes Point, Millers Point, The Rocks & Barangaroo – 5am to 12.30pm: Sections of Hickson Road, Towns Place, Dalgety Road, Pottinger Street, Windmill Street, Watson Road and surrounding streets will be closed.
• Access to The Rocks is maintained via York Street, Lang Street and Harrington Street.
• Pyrmont – 5am to 11am: Sections of Pirrama Road, Bowman Street, Darling Island Road, Harris Street, Bank Street, Refinery Drive and surrounding local roads will be closed.
• Pyrmont – 5am to 11.30am: Pirrama Road between Jones Bay Road and Murray Street; and Murray Street between Union Street and Pirrama Road will be closed.
• Sydney CBD and The Domain Sydney – from 5am: A section of College Street will be closed until 9.30am; sections of Bent Street, Shakespeare Place and Sir John Young Crescent will be closed from 5.30am until midday; and Art Gallery Road, Hospital Road, Mrs Macquaries Road and Prince Albert Road will be closed until 1pm. 

Motorists are reminded that it is an offence to drive on or through a road closure point or exit a driveway onto a closed road unless directed otherwise by NSW Police or authorised personnel on-site. If you require access to your vehicle during the event, you will need to relocate it to outside of the closure footprint prior to the road closures being put in place.

Access to properties within the road closure footprint will need to be done on foot with vehicle pick-ups and drop-offs to take place on the nearest available open road. Limited managed access will be permitted under traffic control for specific precincts when safe to do so.

For details on road closure locations and times as well as real-time traffic updates, visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.

Maps

• TfNSW Interactive Map
• Overview map – road closures and clearways (pdf 2.7MB)
• King Street Wharf and Barangaroo local access map (pdf 602KB)
• Pyrmont local access map (pdf 455KB)
• Sydney Hospital local access map (pdf 571KB)
• The Rocks, King Street Wharf, Barangaroo local access map (pdf 1.4MB)
• The Rocks and Millers Point local access map (pdf 725KB)

Local access changes

Motorists are advised to avoid King Street Wharf, Barangaroo and Crown Sydney precincts between 5am and 12.30pm other than for residential or essential access. Police may restrict vehicle access along closed roads, including to residents and businesses.

Circular Quay

• From 4am, access to the Sydney Opera House and Macquarie Street (north of Albert Street) will be via Albert Street until Macquarie Street reopens at 12.30pm.

Sydney Hospital & Hospital Road

• From 5am to 1pm, two-way access to Hospital Road is via Prince Albert Road only, under traffic control. No access from Shakespeare Place.

King Street Wharf and Barangaroo South

• From 6.30am to 10.30am, access to and from King Street Wharf, Cockle Bay Wharf and Barangaroo South will be restricted to tenants/residents only. Access will be managed via Wheat Road from Harbour Street under traffic control; no access is available via Erskine Street or Sussex Street.
• Entry from the south via Harbour Street: continue northbound on the Western Distributor and veer left into Wheat Road at the signposted exit for Erskine Street/CBD North.
• Entry from Western Distributor: take the Bathurst Street exit towards Darling Harbour, turn right onto Sussex Street, right onto Liverpool Street and then Right onto Harbour Street and veer left into Wheat Road at the signposted exit for Erskine Street/CBD North.
• Exit the precinct via Wheat Road under contra-flow traffic control (light vehicles only). Vehicles over 7 metres (including trucks, buses and coaches) are unable to use the managed exit and will need to remain within the precinct until Erskine Street reopens.
• Motorists are strongly advised to avoid non-essential travel to or from these precincts between 6am and 10.30am as delays are expected.
• Before and after these times, access is maintained via Erskine Street at Kent Street.

Millers Point & Barangaroo North

• Managed access to Kent Street and High Street properties as far north as Argyle Street is maintained throughout the event. Access via Kent Street northbound by traffic control. Kent Street southbound exit allowed for local traffic only.
• After 11am, access to Barangaroo Reserve & car park, Dalgety Road and Bettington Street will be available via Kent Street, High Street, Argyle Place and Dalgety Road until roads reopen at 12.30pm.
• Pottinger Street exit permitted via Windmill Street until 6am.

The Rocks & Dawes Point 

• Access maintained via Lang Street and Harrington Street throughout the event.

Pyrmont

• Access to Murray Street properties/hotels and surrounding local roads permitted via Darling Drive under traffic control for light vehicles and coaches only (trucks not permitted). Note, coaches can only turn around via hotel driveways.
• No access available to Pyrmont Bridge Road or Star Casino from 5am to 10.30am. Access for taxis to Star Casino maintained via Jones Bay Road.
• Refinery Drive will be closed from 5am to 11am with exit permitted via Tambua Street before 6.45am and after 10.45am, only at Police discretion when there are safe gaps between runners. If you need access to your vehicle/property during these times, please plan ahead and relocate your vehicle prior.
• Access to and from The Star car park is via Pyrmont Street.
• No access from/to Pirrama Road from Wharf 7 and Wharf 10 access roads from 5am to 11.30am.
• No access to Murray Street from the Australian National Maritime Museum access road from 5am to 11.30am.
• Exit from driveways on Pyrmont Street properties between Bunn Lane and Murray Street permitted southbound under traffic control throughout the event.
• Resident access maintained to Bowman Street. Exit for local traffic via John Street only.

Cycleway closures

• 4am to 12.30pm: Macquarie Street between King Street and St James Road, and King Street between Phillip Street and Macquarie Street.
• 5am to 9.30am: College Street between Park Street and St Marys Road, and Prince Albert Road between St Marys Street and Macquarie Street.
• 5am to 10.30am: King Street between Kent Street and Sussex Street. No access to Macquarie Street from King Street Cycleway. Sussex Street between Napoleon Street and Erskine Street.
• 5am to 10.30am: Union Street between Edward Street and Murray Street (Pyrmont).
• 5am to 12.30pm: Hickson Road between Munn Street overpass and Barangaroo Central. 

Cycleway detours – 5am to 12.30pm

Cycling detours will be in place between Kent Street cycleway and the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway via the Kent Street on-ramp to Observatory Hill. Marshals will be on-site to direct cyclists across Upper Fort Street in both directions when safe gaps between runners are available. Alternatively, cyclists can travel between Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway and Sydney CBD via Cumberland Street.

Taxi ranks within the road closure footprint will be inaccessible while the event is underway.

If you’re catching rideshare to and from the event, be aware of the road closures and choose pick-up/drop-off locations away from the immediate areas of the start and finish lines to avoid delays. For detailed closure information, visit livetraffic.com.    

Maps

• TfNSW Interactive Map
• Overview map – road closures and clearways (pdf 2.7MB)
• King Street Wharf and Barangaroo local access map (pdf 602KB)
• Pyrmont local access map (pdf 455KB)
• Sydney Hospital local access map (pdf 571KB)
• The Rocks, King Street Wharf, Barangaroo local access map (pdf 1.4MB)
• The Rocks and Millers Point local access map (pdf 725KB)

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit transport operators. 

Parking

Limited parking is available at the following locations within walking distance of the start line on the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie/Bridge Street. Fees apply.

• The Domain Car Park on St Marys Road, Sydney. Open 24 hours.Height limit 1.9m.
• Cathedral Street Car Park – Cathedral Street – Open from 7am. Height limit 2.1m.
• 60 Elizabeth Street Car Park on Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Open 24 hours.Height limit 1.85m.

Visit Wilson Parking or Secure Parking websites for other nearby car park options. Be mindful of car park opening times and road closures.

Special event clearways

Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect on various roads throughout the Sydney CBD, The Domain Sydney, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Millers Point and Pyrmont between 2am and 12.30pm on Sunday 3 May for the event. 

Sydney CBD, Circular Quay & The Domain Sydney

• 2am to 9.30am: sections of Albert Street, Art Gallery Road, Bent Street, Bridge Street, Conservatorium Road (eastern side), College Street (eastern side) Erskine Street, Hospital Road (eastern side) Hunter Street, Macquarie Street, Prince Albert Road, Shakespeare Place, Sussex Street, St James Road and St Marys Road.
• 4am to 12.30pm: sections of Bathurst Street, Castlereagh Street (eastern side), Grosvenor Street, Kent Street (western side), Pitt Street (eastern side), Sussex Street (western side) and York Street.

The Rocks, Millers Point & Barangaroo

• 2am to 9.30am: sections of Argyle Street, Argyle Place (northern side), Dalgety Road, Hickson Road, Kent Street, Pottinger Street, Towns Place, Upper Fort Street, Watson Road and Windmill Street.

Pyrmont

• 2am to 9.30am: sections of Bowman Street, Pirrama Road, Harris Street, Darling Island Road, Jones Bay Road, Wharf Crescent, Murray Street, Bunn Street, Union Street, Pyrmont Street and other surrounding local streets.

Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator.

Maps

• TfNSW Interactive Map
• Overview map – road closures and clearways (pdf 2.7MB)
• King Street Wharf and Barangaroo local access map (pdf 602KB)
• Pyrmont local access map (pdf 455KB)
• Sydney Hospital local access map (pdf 571KB)
• The Rocks, King Street Wharf, Barangaroo local access map (pdf 1.4MB)
• The Rocks and Millers Point local access map (pdf 725KB)

For details on clearway locations and times as well as real-time traffic updates, visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can select "accessible services only" in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (select the "Accessibility" filter).