The Rocks Self-Guided Walk Sydney

A visit to The Rocks shows off historical Sydney at its best. This Rocks self-guided walk will help you discover Sydney’s colonial history in just a couple of hours. 

Let’s start with the name given to this western side of the harbour. Why is this area called The Rocks? When the First Fleet arrived, they moored here against the very rocky shoreline, and the area quickly earned the nickname, The Rocks. In time, the name caught on and began to appear on government maps.

The indigenous name for the Rocks is Tallawoladah, as you will see on new signage around the area. I am pleased this is happening, but I think this traditional name will take some time to gain widespread use.

We have answered Six Commonly Asked Questions About Aboriginal Sydney that you might find interesting.

So let’s get walking; the route below explores my favourite parts of this area.  Allow about 2-3 hours for a stroll, although you could race around and cover it in a lot less. It depends on how often you stop for photos or beer!

Stop 1. Visit platform two at Circular Quay for the best train station view in the world!

Before we begin, you really should see this view. Even if you don’t come by train, as long as you have an Opal card, you can tap on, go up to Platform 2, take a photo and then tap back out without it costing a cent.

View of Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay train station
Circular Quay station undoubtedly has the best train station view in the world.

Stop 2. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

As you leave the station, you will walk to the left of the wharves, towards the park and large sandstone building; this art déco structure is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Most of the exhibits here are free to visit.

Museum of Contemporary Art
The MCA has a great rooftop cafe with views of the harbour

Along with some fantastic modern art, there is also a rooftop cafe with very reasonable prices and superb views. A perfect stop if you feel you need some coffee or drink before you start on your walk. 

Once you leave the MCA and the waterfront, head left into the small park and Cadman’s Cottage

Stop 3. Cadman’s Cottage

Rocks Self-Guided walk - Cadmans Cottage the Rocks
Cadman’s Cottage, Sydney’s oldest residential building

Cadman’s Cottage is the oldest surviving residential building in Australia. It was initially right on the waterfront until the government reclaimed the shoreline to build Circular Quay. The Cottage was once home to John Cadman, a coxswain in the colony, assigned to look after the ships.

It was an information centre for many years, but unfortunately, it is no longer open to the public. Walk up Argyle Street to the left-hand side of the building.

Stop 4. Visit the Rocks Discovery Museum

The Free Rocks Museum
The Rocks Discovery Museum

Cross George Street and head a little further along to the first corner, Kendall Lane, a little along the lane is The Rocks Discovery Museum. It is open daily from 9:30am – 5:30pm and offers a free, small but impressive collection on the history of the Rocks from before the first fleet’s arrival.

This is a great place to get some context The Sydney Budget Travellers Bucket List before you explore the back streets. It’s also really well set up for younger visitors with activity sheets to get them involved in the collection. Sadly, it is not wheelchair or pram accessible.

Pick up a self-guided tour map while you are here if you have trouble with my directions. Even if you are not one for museums, it’s an excellent example of the architecture of the time.

Stop 5. The Rocks Square

Playfair st The Rocks
The Rocks Square food court area in Playfair Street

Once you exit the Museum, head back to the Visitors Centre and out onto Playfair Street. You are now in Rocks Square, home to some takeaway food shops and a set of terrace houses built in the early 1880s. These days the terraces are home to shops and tour booking centres.

At the George Street end of the square is a sandstone sculpture, First Impressions, worth checking out.

Rocks Self Guided walk - Doorway to Foundation Park The Rocks
The magic doorway to Foundation Park

After shopping, look for the narrow passageway between the shopfronts at 25 and 27 Playfair St. This leads to our next stop, Foundation Park.

Stop 6. Visit Foundation Park

Foundation Park The Rocks Self Guided Walk
Foundation Park

Foundation Park is a bit of a secret gem; in fact, many Sydneysiders have never visited. The site is the remains of 8 terrace houses built in the late 1870s. In the early 1970s, the area was preserved and turned into a park. You can see some photos of the original terraces here.

From here, climb the stairs to Gloucester Walk and walk left along the street until you see the stairs that head up to Cumberland Street (they are next to the back of the Glenmore Hotel). Cross Cumberland Street and take another staircase to Observatory Hill.

Stop 7. Observatory Hill

Observatory Hill at golden hour The Rocks Self Guided walk
Observatory Hill at Sunset

Observatory Hill is a brilliant spot to check out the western side of the Harbour. From up here, you can see Miller’s Point, Barangaroo, and an alternate view of the Harbour Bridge. You will also find the Sydney Observatory, the S. H. Ervin Gallery and the National Trust. You can visit these buildings or sit awhile and take in the view.

After you have finished exploring here, head back to the staircase to Cumberland Street.

Stop 8 and 9. Choose a pub on Cumberland Street and rest for a while.

Decision time! By now, you are probably in need of a short break. Cumberland Street boasts two excellent choices, The Glenmore Hotel and The Australian Heritage Hotel.

Glenmore hotel rooftop bar the rocks
The Glenmore Hotel Roof Bar

The Glenmore Hotel has a lovely rooftop bar with affordable food and a great view of the Opera House.

Australian Hotel The Rocks Self Guided Walk
The Australian Hotel does excellent beer paddles.

The Australian Hotel is an excellent choice if you want to taste a couple of Aussie classics on a pizza. They have options with Kangaroo or Emu! They also do beer tasting paddles, although partaking in one of these might see your walk come to an end 🙂

We have a detailed article on the Pubs of the Rocks if you would like to explore more of their fascinating history.

Stop 10. The Big Dig site

The Big Dig excavation site is our next stop. Head south past the Australian Hotel till you reach the Sydney Harbour Youth Hostel.

The Big Dig site at the YHA Sydney

In the mid-1990s, over 75,000 artefacts were found on this site when 20 archaeologists uncovered the foundations of shops and residences dating back to the 1790s. A selection of the items is on display in glass cabinets viewable from the Sydney YHA foyer. From here, walk through the walkway to Gloucester Street, and directly across the road to your left, you will find Susannah Place.

Stop 11. Susannah Place

I love Susannah Place. This Sydney Living Museums property features four homes in an original terrace building. Each house has been preserved as it was in 4 different decades. You can only visit on a guided tour. These run daily from 2 pm and cost less than $10.

If you don’t have time to join one, you can still visit the small shop on the corner. It sells a variety of items suited to the period and will give you an idea of the condition of the rest of the property.

Susannah Place Museum The Rocks Sydney
The read of Susannah Place Museum – 4 terrace houses tracing the history of the Rocks

Once you leave Susannah Place, walk down the stairs beside the shop and see the properties from the back – this site looks almost the same as it did 100 years ago.

Continue down the stairs, officially called the Cumberland steps, to Harrington Street and turn left.  Walk along the street a few hundred metres until you reach a small lane on the right-hand side of the road.

Stop 12. Suez Lane and Nurses Walk

Suez Laneway in The Rocks
Suez Lane features a few figures with some stories of the time

Officially called Harrington Lane, this narrow walkway had been known as Suez Lane for over 150 years because of the water runoff that rushed down the lane after rain. It was also a hot spot of crime and passion (of the paid sort).

Nurses Walk the Rocks self guided walk
Nurses walk home to several cafes and restaurants.

About halfway along the street, turn right into Nurses Walk. This laneway was the direct route that the nurses took to Sydney’s first hospital. Today it is home to gift shops and cafes. The walkways feature signs for those wanting to know more about the history of this spot.

Now follow one of the passageways out to George Street and walk towards the Harbour Bridge end of the street. Along the way, do a bit of window shopping in the stores and cafes along the road. On weekends, a market runs along the far end of this street.

The rocks buildings
View of George Street, The Rocks, taken from the Cahill Expressway walk

When you get to the corner of George Street and Hickson Road, take Hickson Road and walk down the stairs towards the water.

Stop 13. Campbell’s Stores

Historic Sydney Campbells stores The Rocks
Campbells Stores The Rocks

This beautiful old warehouse is called Campbell’s Stores and was built in 1839 to house tea, alcohol, sugar, and fabric. These days it’s home to upmarket restaurants and function centres. The Stores and the surrounding area has recently been restored.

Stop 14. Dawes Point Park

From here, you can follow the path around to Dawes Point and capture a shot of the Harbour Bridge and palm trees.

Stop 15. Overseas Passenger Terminal Viewing Platform

Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal Viewing Platform

Retrace your steps around Campbells Cove to the Overseas Passenger Terminal and take the elevator to the top floor. From the top floor where you will find a metal dome. Take the stairs up another level, and you have a bird’s eye view of Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge.

The Rocks Self Guided Walking Tour Map

So there you are – you have finished your self-guided walk of the Rocks. On the Google map below, you will find all the stops plus an extended walk covering another dozen stops. Open the map in My Maps to see the various options in detail.

If you prefer a guided experience, there are lots of tours available in the area, including:

There is also a free tour with I’m Free every evening at 6 pm.

If you have some energy left and want more, continue under the bridge to Walsh Bay and explore these old harbour wharves. Buses 431 and 433 head back to the city from George St near Lower Fort St or keep walking around to the brand new Barangaroo Reserve and the restaurants of Warrigal Walk.

If you prefer someone to show you around, check out one of these tour options.

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21 thoughts on “The Rocks Self-Guided Walk Sydney”

  1. This is truly amazing! Doing your street art walk tomorrow but bookmarking this one for next week – thanks so much!

  2. Hi,

    How much time we should allocated for Museum of Contemporary Art if we just visit the free exhibits and take photo?

    Thanks

  3. Visitors using wheelchairs are able to access Sydney Observatory gardens, Space theatre, ground floor exhibitions and the East Dome telescope. There is no wheelchair access to the North and South telescope domes due to narrow and steep staircases in the heritage-listed buildings. Accessing the hill itself is not easy but it is possible. This map should help https://goo.gl/maps/qSEcuSXm2CjvabMF6

  4. Hi,

    I’ll be travelling with both my parents, 2 toddlers (4 years old & 1 1/2 years old) and my wife. My dad is using wheelchair but can still move around slowly with the help of crutches.

    We plan to stop at the recommended attractions as per the Rock Self-Guilded Walk and to take photo.

    If we follow the Rocks Self-Guided Walk and start the walk at 2pm. Do you think we will be able to complete the walk by 6pm? or possible to complete the walk earlier?

    Appreciate your kind assistance.

    Thanks

  5. Hi,

    I will be traveling with both my parents, 2 toddlers (4 years old & 1 1/2 years old) and my wife. My dad is using wheelchair but can still move around slowly with the help of crutches. If I push the wheelchair, may I know if Observatory Hill and Sydney Observatory are accessible by my dad? With the wheelchair, is it possible for us to reach the hill and the Observatory by foot?

  6. Hi,

    Visiting Sydney with my family soon. I’m planning a trip to the Rock. This will be helpful. May I know how long it takes to complete the trip as per the Rocks Self-Guided Walk?

    Thanks

  7. Followed most of this tour and it was a well laid out tour to give you a good idea of The Rocks.

  8. This is such a neat tour! I did this yesterday with a group of my international students and they weren’t the only ones discovering new places, I learned a lot too. One of them told me that when we told them we were doing a walking tour that it was going to be really boring, but it was so much fun!

  9. I have not been to the Lowenbrau for years, cause I am with visitors they want to try a local Aussie style place. Must pop in for a beer in your honor Mark 🙂 It has great outdoor seating for people watching.

  10. It’s easy to walk down George Street and be distracted by the markets or one of the many pubs lol but there is so much history to uncover I think it’s worth a little more time if you have some to spare next time. 🙂

  11. I’m embarrassed to admit that when I was in Sydney I missed quite a lot of these sights. I visited The Rocks but was distracted by the weekend market they have there, which is amazing. I guess I’ll have to go back now and use your post as my guide!

  12. I have been to Sydney twice. Both times just for a few days. Unfortunately we missed out on so many things you are writing about. were mainly in the Opera House area. What a pity ( I love to have those view on the Opera House) Well, next time 🙂

  13. Great itinerary! I much prefer a (well informed) self guided walk than a tour and I’ve visited Sydney a couple of times and thought I had seen most of ‘The Rocks’ but you have shown me how wrong I was! Have bookmarked you post for my next trip to Sydney. Thank you!

  14. Love the rocks area of Sydney. I would love do this self guided tour it would be amazing. So much history in this area of sydney. Plus my favorite german restaurant Lowenbrau keller is in the rocks

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