The Rocks Hotels

The Rocks, Sydney, Australia

A vibrant historic district in Sydney, The Rocks is full of 19th Century sandstone buildings constructed by European settlers as well as charming cobbled streets lined with art galleries, museums, independent stores, atmospheric pubs and highly popular eateries. Some of the city’s top sights, like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, are close by.

Markets

Every weekend, locals and tourists alike flock to The Rocks Market to peruse the colorful collection of eclectic stalls along Playfair Street and George Street. More than 200 traders gather here on Saturdays and Sundays, selling a huge variety of goods like handmade jewelry, crafts, photography, art, homeware and linen. Many of the stallholders have been here for decades, so there is a real community spirit. This market is regarded as a place to find the city’s emerging artists.

There is also The Rocks Foodies Market, held every Friday and featuring fresh produce, flowers, bread, chocolate and Australian specialties. In addition, there are some ready-made meals like burgers, lamb kebabs and barbecued salmon. Musicians keep the crowds entertained as they shop.

Cultural Sights

As Sydney’s cultural quarter, The Rocks has no shortage of sightseeing opportunities. Art lovers can head to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Aboriginal Art Galleries. Also well worth checking out are the unique public artworks, once-off exhibitions, and musical performances organized by The Rocks Pop-Up Project, an initiative which enables Sydney’s artists to make use of temporarily vacant spaces. Popular sites for history lovers include The Rocks Discovery Museum and Cadman’s Cottage, an 1816 house which is the city’s oldest surviving residential building.

Besides the galleries and museums, this part of Sydney is home to several theaters. Both the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Dance Company are based here, and this is also the location of the Sydney Interactive Theatre where the audience actively participates in an exhilarating show on the city streets. In addition, the Sydney Opera House is only a ten-minute stroll from The Rocks.

To learn more about the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, visitors can stop by the Pylon Lookout. Those looking for an adrenaline rush have the option of scaling its heights on the BridgeClimb.

Tours and Walks

With so much historic character and intrigue, it is no surprise that The Rocks is where the city’s ghost walks take place. The beautiful architecture plus the unrivalled views of the bridge and opera house also make this a great spot for photographic, historical and general walking tours.

Spectacular views over Sydney Cove can be admired from Dawes Point Park at the northern end of The Rocks; walking up to Observatory Hill similarly reveals breathtaking panoramic scenery. After dark, one can join a pub crawl and sample some fantastic nightlife.

Are you planning a visit to The Rocks? Take a look at our accommodation options in this city!