The Rocks

The Rocks

　 Guide: There are many sights here that can easily fill a day for visitors, such as Nurses Walk and Susannah Place, heritage warehouses in Circular Quay, and Dawes Point Park beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge— all excellent waterfront attractions.

Highlights: Enjoy free, exciting performances by a range of professional performers and street artists. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay, housed in the striking Customs House building.  Introduction: The name “The Rocks” originates from the rocky shore where convicts’ tents were pitched in January 1788. It is one of Sydney’s most fascinating and picturesque areas, once a haunt for sailors, traders, thieves, and prostitutes, and the site of a bubonic plague outbreak in 1900 that claimed 100 lives. Further destruction occurred in the 1920s when streets were razed to make way for access to the southern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It wasn’t until the 1970s that careful restoration transformed the area into the visitor destination it is today—a change many are glad to see.

　 Tickets/Opening Hours: Museum entry: AUD 9 for adults, AUD 6 for children. Tip: A The Rocks tourist pass can be purchased at the The Rocks Visitor Centre, offering three experiences: a harbour cruise, a walking tour, and a meal at a local restaurant. Pass price: AUD 36 for adults, AUD 26.50 for children.

Sydney, Australia