More than 1000 anti-carbon tax protesters have gathered at Belmore Park in central Sydney on the first day of the controversial tariff.

The protesters marched from Hyde Park to Belmore Park this afternoon.

Protesters were waving inflatable plastic bats and carrying placards saying "why tax the air we exhale", while chanting "axe the tax".

Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop addressed the crowd, saying the coalition would abolish the tax immediately.

"The next election, whenever it will be held, will be a referendum on the carbon tax," Ms Bishop told the lively crowd.