From Wikitravel

The Rocks is an historical precinct of central Sydney, capital of the Australian state of New South Wales. Located immediately to the north of the CBD on the western side of Sydney Cove, beneath the famous Harbour Bridge, the Rocks is renowned for its shopping, cultural attractions and wide accommodation options, including a string of prestigious 5-star hotels attracted to the area on account of its fantastic views of the harbour bridge and relatively tranquil atmosphere. Although strictly speaking an integral part of central Sydney, the Rocks is sufficiently different in character and atmosphere from the commercial and retail heart of town, with an abundance of local attractions, to warrant its own article.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By train 2.2 By bus 3 See 3.1 Landmarks 3.2 Museums and galleries 4 Do 5 Eat 5.1 Mid-range 5.2 Splurge 6 Drink 7 Buy 8 Sleep 8.1 Mid-range 8.2 Splurge

Understand

Get in

By train

From Circular Quay station, the Rocks district is only a short walk along the western shore of Circular Quay and Sydney Cove

By bus

Several public buses (routes 431, 433 and 339) stop at various locations within The Rocks. Many other bus routes pass by or terminate near Circular Quay and Wynyard train stations. Sydney Explorer sightseeing buses — which depart every 18 minutes throughout the day from Circular Quay — stop at the Sydney Visitor Centre and Campbell's Cove / Dawes Point in the Rocks.

See

Landmarks

• the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Cadman's Cottage, 110 George Street North (harbourside, below street level), open Tu-Su 10am-4.30pm, closed Mondays, Christmas and Good Friday - the last relic of the small, relatively plain buildings that once ringed Sydney Cove in the early colonial period, this small sandstone cottage was built 1815-1816 (possibly to a design by the emancipated convict architect Francis Greenway) as the "Coxswain’s Barracks" attached to Governor Macquarie’s dockyard and stores (the present name comes from John Cadman, who took up residence in 1827). The building has survived largely because of constant Government or institutional ownership, first as a barracks, then as Cadman’s residence as superintendent of Government Craft (1826-45). From 1845-64, the cottage served as the Water Police Headquarters, and, from 1865-1970, the Sydney Sailors’ Home Trust. Restoration began in 1972 and the building is now used as an information centre by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
• the Argyle Cut, an historic road cutting made between 1843 and 1867
• the Garrison Church

Museums and galleries

• Sydney Observatory [1]
• Susannah Place [2]. 58-64 Gloucester Street. 58–64 Gloucester Street, tel 02 9241 1893, fax 02 9241 2608, open Sa-Su 10am-5pm. daily during January, Tu-We booked group visits only (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday), admission adult $7, child/concession $3, family $7 - built in 1844, Susannah Place Museum preserves a row of four terrace houses that incorporate a re-created 1915 corner store, providing a rare opportunity to construct patterns of domestic working class life from the mid 1840s to the late 20th century. It is evidence of the richness of community life that existed in The Rocks. The modest interiors and rear yards illustrate the restrictions of 19th century inner city life.
• Colonial House Museum
• S.H. Ervin Gallery [3], Watson Road, Observatory Hill
• the Rocks Toy Museum
• Westpac Museum

Do

• the Rocks Self-Guided Walking Tour [4] - the Sydney Visitor Centre, Corner of Argyle & Playfair Streets, publishes this excellent booklet (in conjunction the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority). The $1 booklet lists 31 historic buildings and points of interest throughout The Rocks and guides you along a fascinating heritage walk, providing one of the best self tours of a heritage area you could get anywhere.
• the Rocks Pub Tour [5]
• Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge - for those who are good with heights and enjoy an unrivalled view of the harbour, a company called BridgeClimb [6] organises excursions to the top of the coathanger.... The tour check-in point is located in the Rocks at 5 Cumberland Street, tel 02 8274 7777
• Bonza Bike Tours offers a Sydney and Sydney Harbor Bridge guided bicycle tour that starts in The Rocks and includes a ride over the bridge (and back) and a tour through Sydney's North Shore. The cost for the full day tour is $95 for adults and $75 for children. Lunch, beverage, bikes, and guide are all included. (info@BonzaBikeTours.com, +61 02 9331 1127, http://www.bonzabiketours.com/tours.aspx)

Eat

Mid-range

• Pancakes on the Rocks [7], 10 Hickson Road, 02 9247 6371, fax 02 9252 2900 - a Rocks institution since 1975, the name says it all....!
• Löwenbräu Keller [8], corner Playfair and Argyle Streets, tel 02 9247 7785, fax 02 9241 1613 - an authentic Bavarian German restaurant located in a convict-built cellar

Splurge

• Rockpool [9], 107 George Street, tel 02 9252 1888, fax 02 9252 2421 - fine dining in the Rocks since 1989, sophisticated seafood with an Asian fusion influence, winner of the prestigious Australian Gourmet Traveller 2004 Restaurant of the Year prize, mains $54-$70

Drink

• the Orient Hotel [10], 89 George St, tel 02 9251 1255, fax 02 9247 4569, email mailto:orienthotel@bigpond.com.au - housed in an historic building of the 1850s
• the Mercantile Hotel, 25 George St, tel 02 9247 3570 - one of Sydney's premier Irish pubs, Guinness on tap!
• the Hero of Waterloo, 81 Lower Fort St, tel 02 9252 4553 - built in 1845, this sandstone pub has a great colonial ambience
• the Lord Nelson - established in 1842

Buy

• the Rocks Market [11], far northern end of George Street, open every weekend, Sa-Su 10am-5pm, managed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, info tel 02 9240 8717 - over 150 stalls under colourful canopies, art and craft, jewellery, frames, photography, indigenous artwares, food and much more....

Sleep

Mid-range

• Old Sydney Holiday Inn [12], 55 George Street, tel 02 92520524, fax 02 92512093, email mailto:bdm@oldsydneyholidayinn.com.au - rooms from $184

Splurge

• Shangri-La Hotel 176 Cumberland Street, +61 2 9250 6000, (fax 02 9250 6250, email mailto:slsn@shangri-la.com) [13]. The Shangri-La Hotel is a fantastic hotel if you want to splash out. Beautiful views over the harbour, fantastic service, and very centrally located. Double rooms approximately $300 per night.
• Four Seasons Hotel Sydney 199 George Street [14].
• Park Hyatt 7 Hickson Road, +61 2 9241 1234 (fax 02 9256 1555, email mailto:sydney@hyatt.com.au) [15]. A superb setting, positioned on the Harbour shore at Dawes Point, beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and opposite the Opera House situated across Sydney Cove. Approximately $600-$1300.
• Observatory Hotel 89-113 Kent Street +61 2 9256 2222 [16]. The Observatory Hotel in Sydney has a European feel to it. Appointed with stunning rooms, and superbly located near the Rocks and downtown Sydney. Double rooms approx $800-$1000.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!