7 Things to do in the Rocks & Circular Quay.

Over the last couple of years, I have developed a deep appreciation for my own capital city of Sydney. Spending a few hours walking around Circular Quay and the Rocks area is always great. Here are 7 things to do in the Rocks & Circular Quay.

The rocks have been a part of the fabric of Sydney from the beginning. The Rocks had a crucial role in early European settlement. Long before that, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation called this area home.

If you look hard enough today, you can find evidence of both cultures, but sometimes you have to look real hard.

The list below will help you on your way to understanding. It won’t answer all questions, but it is worth the discoveries.

Here is my List of 7 things to do in Circular Quay and The Rocks

1 Wander the lanes and read the plaques

Wandering the lanes around the rocks is fascinating to do in its own right. The history of white settlement is brought to life with helpful information plagues throughout the alleyways.

2 Find a pub or cafe to sit, and people watch

After you have explored the laneways, read up on the fascinating history. Why not pull up a chair at the oldest pub in Australia, get your favourite beverage and something to eat and watch the world pass? 

My favourite place is somewhere on George st, and there are loads of cafes, restaurants and pubs (including the Fortune of war, Australia’s oldest pub).

As you make your way around the Quay, you will find places to eat at the station or head to the enchanting bars and cafes at the foot of the Opera House. Restaurants include the famous Opera Bar.

3 Visit a museum or gallery

There is a variety of museums located in the rocks area. The Rocks Discovery centre and the Australian Museum of contemporary art are two notes. Walking through the area, I know there is always the chance to find other museums, including the Love Museum.

Wandering the streets and alleyways is also a great way to find galleries. Check out the Rocks Art Trail map if you are looking for art. This map includes the artist, maker and designer categories helping you find what interests you most.

4 Do a tour or catch a performance at the Sydney Opera house

The Sydney Operas House is a beautiful building; the brilliant white sails beckon you to come and enjoy a moment. Looking at the Oprea house and walking outside is lovely, but what about the inside? 

Here are a couple of options: watching a performance. If you don’t have the time or funds for a concert, then look at a tour and learn everything about this incredible place.

1. Sydney Opera House sits on Bennelong Point. Bennelong Point was named after Woollarawarre Bennelong, an Eora man at the time of the arrival of the British in 1788.
2. The original cost estimate to build the Sydney Opera House was $7 million. The final cost was $102 million. It was primarily paid for by a State Lottery.
3. There were 233 designs submitted for the Opera House international design competition held in 1956. Jørn Utzon from Denmark was announced the winner.
4.  It took 14 years. Work commenced in 1959, taking 10 years longer to build than expected.
5. More than 1 million roof tiles are covering the building.
6.  In 1960, Paul Robeson climbed the scaffolding. He sang Ol’ Man River to the construction workers as they ate lunch, becoming the first to perform at the Opera House.
7. Sydney Opera House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20th October 1973.
8. Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2007.

5 Wander through the Botanic Gardens

Next to the Opera is a great green space full of places to explore, benches with harbour views and areas beckoning you to relax a while.

Established in 1816 by governor Philip, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is Australia’s oldest botanic garden and scientific institution. The 

30 hectares (74 acres) of gardens are full of history and not just the last 200 years. 

To learn more, check out tours and walks through the gardens.

Entry free to explore your own.

6 Catch a ferry and explore the harbour and surrounding areas.

Circular Quay is the transport hub for this part of Sydney, with trains linking you to other parts of Sydney, outer Sydney and a direct line to the Airport. Buses and light rail also travel to other parts of the city. The main transport focus is the Ferry and river ferry terminals.

The Iconic Sydney ferries can link you to Manly, the zoo, Luna Park and many other harbour stops. 

You can catch a train to Parramatta, but why not ride the river ferry for a totally different sightseeing experience? Travelling up the Parramatta River from Circular Quay to Parramatta, stopping along the way at places like Cockatoo Island, Cabarita and Sydney Olympic Park. 

You can pick up or top up your opal card at Circular Quay.

7 Snap insta-worthy photos of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the whole harbour landscape.

Sydney Harbour is beautiful and beckons to be the centre of your Sydney experience. Scroll through anyone’s Instagram, and if they have spent time in Sydney, the harbour and its iconic landmarks will likely feature. The Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Luna Park look great any time of the day or night, but the late afternoon is my Favourite time to snap these beauties.

Bonus 

All the above suggestions are easy things to do at your own pace. They could easily be incorporated into an afternoon or single day of exploring. 

Many of these activities could be easily done pre-cruise. Suppose you are leaving from the Overseas Passenger Terminal. In that case, you could arrive a few hours before your boarding time and explore the area before embarking. What a great day it will be when cruising comes back to Australia.

If you are taking things deeper, consider a themed walking tour. Here I found while I was researching.

Sydney & The Rocks Historic Walking Tour

All ages 

90 minutes 

https://www.rockswalkingtours.com.au/walking-tour/

If you want to go deep into indigenous life in the area, check out the walking tour. You will be led by Aboriginal guides during this tour which will help tie the old with the new.

The Rock Dreaming Tour 

This 90-minute leisurely walkabout in The Rocks delves into the authentic history of Aboriginal peoples’

90 minutes

Have you ever been to Circular Quay?

What is your favourite thing to do in the area?