Sydney Mini Marathon

Sydney Marathon 2026 participants and volunteers are entitled to travel to and from Marathon events on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August on the public transport services listed below.  

Just show your race bib, finishers medal or volunteer t-shirt to transport staff when boarding services. 

• Sydney Trains & NSW TrainLink Intercity services (non-booked services bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations) * NOTE: airport station access fee is not included. 
• Sydney Metro services 
• Regular route metropolitan and outer metropolitan bus services 
• Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle Light Rail services 
• Sydney and Newcastle Ferries 

If you don't have your bib, medal or t-shirt, you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment to travel on public transport. 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 and is not covered by 2026 Sydney Marathon travel entitlements. 

Volunteers are also entitled to travel on the above-mentioned transport services to and from the Sydney Marathon Running Expo in Olympic Park on Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 August 2026. 

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Sydney’s North West and South West via the city. 

The closest Metro station to the Mini Marathon start line on Macquarie St is Martin Place.  

Take the Hunter St or Elizabeth St exits and continue on foot down Macquarie St to the start line near Bridge St. Metro services run regularly from early morning until late. 

From the finish line at the Sydney Opera House, the closest Metro station is Martin Place, alternatively catch a train from Circular Quay to connect with other train lines to complete your trip home.  

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

Trains will be running regularly on Saturday to help you to get to and from the Sydney Mini Marathon event. 

The closest train stations for the Mini Marathon are Circular Quay and Martin Place. From there walk towards Macquarie St at Bridge St to reach the start area. From the finish area at the Opera House, it’s a short walk back to Circular Quay station. 

Trackwork

Planned trackwork is taking place on Saturday 29 August on the following lines and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner. 

Below trackwork is subject to change, details including timings will be confirmed closer to event date.

• T1 Western Line: Saturday morning, buses replace trains between Richmond and Blacktown. 
• T2 Leppington & Inner West Line: Trains run between Leppington and Olympic Park via Granville, and between Leppington and Lidcombe via Regents Park. You may need to change trains to continue your journey. 
• T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line: Trains run between Leppington and Olympic Park via Granville, and between Leppington and Lidcombe via Regents Park. You may need to change trains to continue your journey.
• T5 Cumberland Line: Saturday morning, buses replace trains between Richmond and Blacktown. 

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. For train service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Buses run regularly to Martin Place and Wynyard which are all within short walking distance of the Mini Marathon starting area on Macquarie St near Bridge St.

Buses will not run to or from Circular Quay due to road closures for the Motion Festival at Customs House. Other buses across the city will also be diverting.

Details on bus diversions will be confirmed closer to the event.

For bus service disruption information check travel alerts or use the Trip Planner.

Sydney Ferries are a great way to get around the city but services can be popular and may reach capacity, especially on weekends so allow extra travel time and consider the alternative transport options.

Catch ferries to Circular Quay then continue on foot towards the start line on Macquarie St near Bridge St.

From the finish line at Sydney Opera House catch one of the many ferries leaving from nearby Circular Quay wharves. Ferries will run to a regular Saturday timetable.

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

The closest stop to the start line on Macquarie St near Bridge St is the Bridge Street stop on the L2 and L3 lines. Plan your trip ahead of time using the Trip Planner. 

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 Bridge Street 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 Bridge Street to get within walking distance of the start line.

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 Circular Quay to get within walking distance of the start line. Alternatively, change at Central, Town Hall or Wynyard for an L2 or L3 Line service or train service to Bridge Street 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. 

Roads in the Sydney CBD will be closed for Mini Marathon on Saturday and Motion Festival taking place from Thursday. See our Mini Marathon 2026 - Road Closure and Clearway Map (pdf 496KB).

Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in the northern end of the CBD around Circular Quay and to be aware of special event clearway parking restrictions in effect on various roads.

Motion Festival – Thu 27 to Sun 30 Aug

Motion Festival, the official race week live site, will take over Customs House at Circular Quay from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August.

Road closures will be in place on sections of Loftus St, Loftus Lane, Young St and Alfred St from 5am Sat 29 Aug until 1am Mon 31 Aug. No road closures will be in place on Thursday 27 or Friday 28 August.

Mini Marathon – Sat 29 Aug – Road Closures

Roads in the Sydney CBD will close for the Mini Marathon event between 2am and 10am. See our Mini Marathon 2026 - Road Closure and Clearway Map (pdf 496KB).

• 2am – 10am: Macquarie St between Bridge St and Bent St 
• 4am – 10am: Macquarie St between Bridge St and the Opera House roundabout, and Albert St, roads in the Royal Botanic Garden & The Domain including Art Gallery Rd and Mrs Macquaries Rd.
• 5am – 10am: Macquarie St between Bent St and College St, including Cahill Expressway on and off ramps to Macquarie St, St James Rd to Elizabeth St, College St to Park St, Hunter St and Phillip St. 
• 6.30am – 9.30am:  St Mary’s Rd, Hospital Rd and Shakespeare Place/Bent Street.

Cycleway closures from 5am to 10am:

• College Street between Park Street and Prince Albert Road (western side)
• Macquarie St between St James Rd and King St (western side)

For the latest traffic information visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app. 

If you are getting dropped off at the start line, be aware that road closures will restrict direct vehicle access to the start area on Macquarie St. Use drop off areas on Bridge St or Phillip St then continue on foot.

An accessible drop-off point will be located on Loftus St at Circular Quay.

See our Mini Marathon 2026 - Road Closure and Clearway Map (pdf 496KB).

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

Parking 

Car parking options around the start area in Circular Quay, Sydney CBD is limited on Saturday .

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

Special event clearways

Special event clearways will be in effect on key roads in the Sydney CBD to support the event. Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types, and apply even to residents with local council parking permits or TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders.

• From 2am to 10am Sat 29 Aug on sections of Albert St, Art Gallery Rd, Bent St, Bridge St, College St, Conservatorium Rd, Hospital Rd, Hunter St, Macquarie St, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Phillip Ln, Prince Albert Rd, Shakespeare Place, St James Rd and St Marys Rd.
• 5am Sat 29 Aug to 1am Mon 31 Aug on O’Connell St and Bligh St.

See our Mini Marathon 2026 - Road Closure and Clearway Map (pdf 496KB).

Check signs carefully on the day and the night before as vehicles left in signposted clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed it will be relocated to the nearest available legal parking space. 

If you vehicle is towed, 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.

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).