Circular Quay
Circular Quay is a located between The Rocks and Opera Quays. It is situated at a small inlet called Sydney Cove, the founding site for Sydney and Australia. The area is always filled with vibrant tourists, commuters and buskers.
On the southern side of Circular Quay is a walkway that leads to The Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens. On the northern side, a short walk along lovely landscaped walkways takes you to the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks.
There is a major railway station at the quay, which is part of the underground City Circle, which skirts around the CBD. Alongside the ferry terminals are a number of small outdoor cafes and the area is a magnet for buskers of every description.
Things to Do & See at Circular Quay
Set off to just about anywhere in or near the city by bus, train or ferry
Dine over-looking Sydney Harbour, one of the best in the world
Catch a ferry to Manly, Mosman, Parramatta, Watson’s Bay, Balmain or Taronga Zoo
Walk from beautiful Circular Quay to under Harbour Bridge
Take a short walk to the The Opera House and Botanical Gardens for a peaceful picnic amongst the leaves
Cruise over to The Opera House and check out the Aussie icon set right on the Harbour
Browse the up-market shops, catch a movie in the lower floors of the controversial building on the eastern side of Circular Quay dubbed the “toaster” by locals
Related Travel Information
Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour is the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. There are infinite opportunities to walk, eat and relax throughout the harbour; along the waterfront and amidst the many parks and reserves along the way. The best way of seeing the harbour is to be on it and that's easy to do. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge constructed in 1924 which took 1500 men eight years to build at a cost of £4.25 million. Six million hand driven rivets
Sydney Opera House
The Opera House is one of Sydney's most popular icons with tourists and travellers from the world over visiting, photographing and standing in awe of the cultural centre of Sydney. It is located on the Circular Quay. Completed in 1973, the Sydney Opera House was designed by Joern Utzon. The first public performance being Prokofiev's 'War and Peace', and the acoustics are fabulous. From outside the Sydney Opera House looks remarkable and if you get up close you will be able to see several of the million or so ceramic tiles which cover the Sydney Opera House shells.
The
Chinatown & Haymarket
Chinatown is just adjacent to Darling Harbour and Haymarket is home to Sydney's Chinatown. The area is renowned for its pop culture pleasures, with Her Majesty's Theatre on Quay Street and the ugly concrete bunker of the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the city's mainstream concert venue, on the other side of Chinatown. Chinatown takes over the Haymarket area west of George Street between Liverpool Street and Hay Street, up to the edges of Darling Harbour. It's centred on Dixon Street Mall, entered through Chinese gates, and buzzes day and night as people swarm into numerous restaurants, pubs,
Sydney Aquarium
Sydney Aquarium lies to the eastern edge of Darling Harbour and closer to the heart of the city, is one of Sydney's most accessible popular attractions. The Aquarium has more than 650 species comprising more than 11,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures. The Sydney Aquarium is dedicated to the animals welfare and it is for that reason the Aquarium does not support the notion of animal shows, in particular performances and feeding times. Some animals are trained by keepers, but it is for animal husbandry purposes only. Similarly, animals are fed when needed, not according to
The Domain, Art Gallery & Botanic Gardens
The Domain is a large grassy area east of Macquarie St which was set aside by Governor Phillip for public recreation. Today it is used by city workers for lunchtime sports and as a place to escape the bustle of the city. On Sunday afternoons, it's the gathering place for impassioned soapbox speakers, who do their best to entertain or enrage their listeners. It is also the venue for free events held during the festival of Sydney in January and the popular Carols by Candlelight at Christmas. The Art Gallery of New South Wales
