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Crowd crosses road at rainbow crossing.
Photograph: City of Sydney/Katherine Griffiths

Where to find the best rainbow crossings, murals and paths in Sydney

Chase the rainbow (and snap some fabulous selfies) at these colourful sights

Alannah Le Cross
Maya Skidmore
Written by
Alannah Le Cross
&
Maya Skidmore
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We know what they say about chasing waterfalls, but what about chasing rainbows? You’ll find some spectacularly bright rainbow crossings, paths and walkways if you go looking in Sydney.

At the end of the day, these colourful installations are symbols of LGBTQIA+ equality and solidarity and a reminder that love wins. They’re perfect places to reflect on how far we’ve come in the fight for equality, how far we have to go yet – and, of course, get your smize on for a selfie.


Looking for places to connect on common ground? Check out the best queer pubs and clubs in Sydney or cool off at Sydney’s best gay-friendly beaches

They're here, they're queer

Taylor Square, Darlinghurst
Photograph: Vincent Rommelaere

Taylor Square, Darlinghurst

This curved rainbow crossing on the corner of Bourke and Campbell streets, in the heart of Sydney’s queer district, was said to be the first actual rainbow-shaped crossing of its kind in the world when it was permanently installed in 2019. When the crossing was removed just months after it appeared, it sparked the DIY Rainbow protest movement, when rainbow chalkings popped up around the world. You can now strut across the eye-poppingly bright permanent fixture with its red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple stripes. Now, the renowed rainbow has had a glow-up with an accompanying mural by Double Rainbouu’s Mikey Nolan. Just be careful when you’re snapping those selfies – this is a fully functional crossing on a road where cars are also passing. 

Find the location here.

Coogee Beach
Photograph: Vincent Rommelaere

Coogee Beach

Sissy that walk down to the sand, because Sydney has scored its first beachside rainbow walkway. The bright fixture was unveiled in February 2021, and just got revamped for WorldPride. It takes over the naturally rainbow-shaped form of the Coogee Beach steps. The installation of the 50-metre long walkway was only supposed to be a temporary fixture, but the council decided to let the rainbow shine on permanently. It is intended to be a statement in support of diversity, inclusivity and equality with the local LGBTQI+ community. It can be found on the lower main steps of Coogee Beach near the corner of Arden Street and Coogee Bay Road.

Find the location here.

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Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills
Photograph: City of Sydney/Chris Southwood

Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills

This 90-metre pathway brings a bold dash of colour to the area of Prince Alfred Park known as the Equality Green. Sandwiched between Central Station and the edge of Redfern, this is where, in 2017, a crowd gathered in anticipation of the announcement of the result of the marriage equality vote. “This is a permanent tribute to the moment when more than 30,000 Sydneysiders gathered together to hear the results of the marriage equality postal survey,” lord mayor and ultimate ally Clover Moore said when the path was unveiled. 

Find the location here.

  • Things to do
  • Bondi Beach

Bondi has always been a suggestive temptress, never shy of showing a bit of leg, sun baking topless, or sashaying sassily with the sand between her toes. Now, she's got herself a saucy sea wall to match, just in time for WorldPride. Now, rain, hail or shine, Bondi will always have a rainbow on hand. We're all about it. 

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  • Newtown

This stacked up rainbow sculpture might not be in its most traditional curvy format, but if breaking with convention isn't exactly what Newtown's about, then what is? The 'Pride Beacon' has formally arrived in Sydney's most colourful suburb in time for WorldPride. This fabulous structure's appearance has also marked a formal renaming of the former 'Bedford Square' on King Street to 'Pride Square', with the 'Newtown Beacon' set to become the eternal name of the suburb's most colourful standing sculpture. Snaps for that. 

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