Sydney’s iconic 333 bus route is turning 20, and the milestone comes with a major upgrade for the thousands of passengers who rely on it every day.
New articulated “bendy” buses are being rolled out on the route connecting North Bondi and Circular Quay, as Transport for NSW moves to add capacity to one of Australia’s busiest bus corridors.
The 20th anniversary comes as the route reaches a new high in bus-riders. In the 2025–26 financial year, the 333 carried more than 9 million passenger journeys for the first time, with patronage rising 3.7% compared with the previous financial year.
For a route that already operates around the clock, seven days a week, the new buses are designed to help keep up with growing demand.
The 333 has been moving Sydney for 20 years
The 333 first launched on 8 October 2006, creating a full-time connection between North Bondi and Circular Quay via Bondi Junction, Oxford Street, Martin Place and the CBD.
Two decades later, it has become a Sydney institution. The roughly 12-kilometre route links two of the city’s biggest landmarks while serving the people who live, work and study along the way.
On any given day, passengers include Eastern Suburbs commuters heading into the city, students, tourists travelling to Bondi and visitors making their way towards Sydney Harbour.
And unlike many bus routes, the 333 never really switches off. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with daytime services running as frequently as every few minutes.
New bendy buses are joining the 333
The scale of the 333’s daily operation helps explain why Transport for NSW is bringing larger buses onto the route.
An average of around 21,000 passengers tap on each weekday, making the 333 Australia’s most patronised public bus service and a major public transport link between Sydney’s eastern suburbs and the CBD.
The route was also notable when it launched because it became Sydney’s first full-time prepay-only bus service, helping speed up boarding and improve reliability.
Now, Transport for NSW is adding bigger buses to the route. The NSW Government is investing $56 million in 50 new articulated buses across the network, with 37 allocated to the Eastern Suburbs.
Six have already arrived in the Eastern Suburbs, with Transport for NSW progressively putting them into service on routes including the iconic 333.
Articulated buses can carry around 50% more passengers than a standard bus, making them particularly useful on routes where demand is high.
Thirteen of the new bendy buses are already operating on route 52, strengthening connections between Parramatta, Ryde and Sydney CBD.
Why the 333 matters to Sydney
The 333 connects far more than two of Sydney’s best-known landmarks. It ties together some of Sydney’s busiest neighbourhoods and streets, running from North Bondi through Bondi Junction and along Oxford Street before reaching Martin Place, the CBD and Circular Quay.
Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said the route had become an important part of Sydney’s transport network. “The 333 is much more than a bus route. It’s a vital transport link that supports Sydney’s economy, tourism industry and communities across the Eastern Suburbs and city centre.”
Moreover, its passengers are just as varied. “It operates around the clock and carries an incredibly diverse mix of passengers, from office workers and students to international visitors heading between two of Australia’s most famous landmarks.”
Now, as the iconic route enters its third decade, new articulated buses are set to give it more room to carry the city forward.
