Day 1 Morning: White Bay Power Station, Biennale’s Industrial Canvas

Start your sculptor’s adventure at White Bay Power Station in Rozelle, a heritage-listed beast that’s been reborn as a Biennale hub. This old coal plant, open to the public since 2024, is a dream for anyone who loves scale and texture. During the 2026 Biennale, expect massive installations tied to the Rememory theme—think towering woven sculptures by First Nations collectives like Yangamini or kinetic works by global artists like Guatemala’s Edgar Calel, playing with memory and form. The raw concrete floors, rusted beams, and cavernous spaces are a sculpture in themselves, begging you to sketch their angles or imagine your own work in the mix.

Spend a couple hours touching (with your eyes, mate!) the textures—smooth ceramics, rough-hewn wood, maybe even recycled industrial bits. Entry’s free, but book tickets online for busy days. Bring a sketchbook to jot down ideas; the sheer size of the place is a lesson in scale. Catch the 443 shuttle bus from Queen Victoria Building—runs every 10-15 minutes, and it’s a lifesaver since parking’s a nightmare. Grab a coffee from a pop-up bar on-site to fuel your morning. I once got lost in a maze-like installation here and nearly missed my bus, so keep an eye on the time

Day 1 Afternoon: Lunch and Tactile Vibes at The Rocks

After White Bay, hop a bus or ferry to The Rocks for lunch and some tactile exploration. This historic neighborhood, with its sandstone buildings and cobbled lanes, feels like a sculptor’s playground. Head to The Glenmore for a pub lunch—think juicy burgers and a rooftop view of the harbor. The rough-hewn sandstone walls and wooden beams are perfect for running your hands over (discreetly, of course). Post-lunch, wander the laneways to spot public sculptures, like the First Impressions bronze by Bud Dumas, which captures Sydney’s colonial past in gritty detail.

The Rocks Markets (Friday to Sunday) are a goldmine for tactile finds—hand-carved wooden bowls or textured ceramics by local artisans. Sketch the market stalls or the weathered stone of the buildings; it’s all material for your next piece. The ferry ride back to Circular Quay, if you take it, offers a quick glimpse of the Opera House’s curves—pure sculptural inspo. Don’t linger too long, coz you’ll want energy for the evening!

Day 1 Evening: Circular Quay Architectural Walk

As the sun dips, take a sculptor’s walk around Circular Quay, where architecture meets art. Start at the Sydney Opera House, its white-tiled sails like a massive ceramic sculpture catching the light. The Badu Gili projections on the sails, showcasing First Nations art, add a layer of ephemeral texture—perfect for thinking about light and form. Wander to the Customs House, with its sandstone facade and sleek glass atrium, a study in old-meets-new materials. Then, check out the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Art Deco curves, which feel carved from stone.

Bring your sketchbook to capture the interplay of textures—smooth tiles, rough sandstone, glassy reflections. The walk’s free, and you can pause for a gelato at Circular Quay’s kiosks to keep the vibes high. If you’re feeling fancy, pop into Quay Bar for a cocktail and harbor views. I reckon this walk’s best at dusk when the light makes every surface pop—last time, I sketched the Opera House’s tiles for hours and nearly missed dinner!

Day 2 Morning: Brett Whiteley Studio, A Sculptor’s Muse

Day two kicks off in Surry Hills at the Brett Whiteley Studio, reopened in late 2025 after renovations. This former warehouse, where Aussie legend Brett Whiteley lived and worked from 1987 to 1992, is a tactile treasure trove. The studio’s preserved as he left it—paint-splattered floors, unfinished sculptures, and a graffiti wall packed with quotes and sketches. Expect exhibitions of Whiteley’s work, like his chunky, abstract sculptures or mixed-media pieces that blend wood, plaster, and found objects, perfect for a sculptor’s eye. The 2026 shows might tie into Rememory, maybe exploring Whiteley’s take on Sydney’s harbor through textured forms.

Spend a couple hours soaking in the chaos—touch the air where his tools still sit, sketch the rough floorboards, or study his use of collage in 3D works. Entry’s about $15, and it’s near Redfern Station, so trains are your mate. Bring a pencil for quick studies; the studio’s raw energy is infectious. I once got so caught up in the graffiti wall’s textures I forgot to eat—don’t do that

Day 2 Afternoon: Lunch and Sculptural Sketches at 107 Projects

Stay in the Redfern area for lunch at 107 Projects, a community art space in an old garage on Redfern Street. The cafe’s got hearty dishes like quinoa bowls with native herbs, and the walls are alive with rotating exhibits—maybe tactile installations by local sculptors or Biennale-linked works. The rough concrete and exposed beams vibe with your sculptor’s soul, so sketch the space while you eat. It’s free to enter, and the laid-back crowd—artists, musicians, locals—makes it a great spot to chat about the Biennale.

If you’ve got time, pop into nearby Vandal Gallery on Vine Street for more emerging art. Their small-scale sculptures, often made from recycled materials, are a masterclass in texture. It’s a quick walk, and both spots are near Carriageworks’ Biennale exhibits, so you could sneak in a bonus visit. Just don’t overdo it—my legs were jelly after a Redfern art crawl once!

Day 2 Evening: Sunset at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and Reflection

End your journey at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a short bus or train ride from Redfern to Circular Quay. This sandstone outcrop, carved in 1810 for Governor Macquarie’s wife, is a sculpture in its own right, with sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Bridge. As the sun sets, the golden light hits the sandstone, creating textures that beg to be sketched—bring clay or a soft pencil to capture the rock’s grain. Reflect on your 48 hours, maybe molding a quick maquette inspired by White Bay’s scale or Whiteley’s raw forms.

For dinner, head to Cafe Sydney at Circular Quay, where you can feast on seafood with a view of the twinkling harbor. The wooden deck and glass walls feel like a modern sculpture, tying your trip together. If you’re still buzzing, check out a Biennale performance at the Sydney Opera House—book ahead, they sell out quick! Catch a ferry or train back to your hotel, soaking in one last view of Sydney’s sculpted skyline.