The Rocks & Circular Quay

Harbour Bridgeclimb, Sydney, NSW. Photo credit: Bridgeclimb Sydney; Destination NSW

The Rocks & Circular Quay

When the British ‘First Fleet’ landed here in 1788 the colonisation of Australia began. It’s come on a bit since then…

Circular Quay is postcard Sydney. Almost anywhere you turn you’ll find iconic views fighting for your attention and your camera finger will end the day with RSI. The harbour. Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Opera House. And they’re just the headline acts.

The Rocks
Named after the terrain that was once its main feature, The Rocks is a maze of streets and buildings dating from the early 19th century. Today, it’s something of a Sydney tourist hotspot thanks to its eclectic and inviting mix of shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
BridgeClimb is one of Sydney’s must-do attractions. Scale this most famous of bridges for staggering views and an “I did that” moment to compare with the very best.

The guided tour of Sydney’s other most famous landmark is informative, and we’d particularly recommend the twilight or dawn climbs, where you’ll see the city change from day to night or vice versa. These times are more expensive but are well worth the cost.

Sydney Opera House
Is there a more recognisable building on the planet? 7 million visitors come to this UNESCO World Heritage Site every year to tour Sydney’s Opera House or take in a performance. If you can, do both.

The Opera House also boasts one of Sydney’s best restaurants, and if you stand in front of the building you’ll be able to take some brilliant pictures across the harbour. We’d also recommend the nearby harbour-side bar for a relaxing drink whilst looking out over the water. Heaven.

George Street
George Street (or at least the part of it that’s in The Rocks) is our favourite spot for gift-buying. There’s not much that’s mass produced here, making it so much easier to find something unique and hand crafted. Also a prime area for good restaurants and galleries.

Museums
The Rocks and the Circular Quay area teem with museums. Their names (The Rocks Discovery Museum, Susannah Place Museum, The Westpac Museum) don’t offer much of a clue as to what’s inside.

The history of the area, the origins of Australia’s working class, banking history: it may sound a bit fusty but we promise you each has its own charms. Just do your research first to pick the right museums for you.

Sydney Observatory
In the late 1800s some of the first images of the southern sky were taken from here. Nowadays the observatory is home to the city’s astronomy museum and features games and interactive equipment to make learning about the universe easier for everyone. Night sky viewings are available but booking is essential.

Cruises
Numerous cruises sail each day from the Circular Quay area. Best of all (we think) are tours by Sydney Tall Ships whose cruises take place under majestic (or romantic – you choose) sails and rigging. Packages can include lunch, dinner and/or wine/champagne.

New Year’s Eve
Few places on earth can boast a date in the calendar as one of its main attractions. Sydney can. The Circular Quay area is at the centre of the celebrations and offers the best views of the spectacular firework display at Sydney Harbour Bridge.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Sydney on New Year’s Eve, be sure to get down here very early in the morning to get the best spot. People spend the entire day waiting for the fireworks and it soon gets busy.

Find more attractions in Sydney
Book places to stay in Sydney
Find more things to do in New South Wales