Sights · Our pick in Sydney
Circular Quay and The Rocks
Where Sydney began
The ferry wharves of Sydney Cove and the sandstone lanes of The Rocks.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Rangasyd · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Fin 22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
Our take
- Ferries
- Weekend markets
- Address
- The Rocks, Sydney
- Nearest station
- Circular Quay
50 m · 1 min walk
More distances
About Circular Quay and The Rocks
Circular Quay is the harbour’s ferry terminus on Sydney Cove, where the First Fleet anchored in 1788; behind its western shore rise the sandstone warehouses, pubs and lanes of The Rocks.
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Circular Quay and The Rocks before you go.
Last checked: November 2026 How we choose
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Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Circular Quay and The Rocks, as the crow flies.
- InterContinental Sydney250 m3 min walk
- Capella Sydney250 m3 min walk
- Four Seasons Hotel Sydney300 m4 min walk
- Shangri-La Sydney400 m5 min walk
- Park Hyatt Sydney600 m8 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Circular Quay and The Rocks are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations and wharves
- Circular QuayTrainLight rail50 m1 min walk
- Circular Quay 4BFerry100 m1 min walk
- Circular Quay 4AFerry100 m1 min walk
Key sights
- Royal Botanic Garden950 mWalk 12 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Hyde Park Barracks950 mWalk 12 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Harbour Bridge1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Queen Victoria Building1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Darling Harbour1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Bondi Beach6.6 kmCycle 33 minCar or taxi 28 min
- Sydney Airport10 kmCar or taxi 39 min
- Sydney Opera House12 kmCar or taxi 45 min
Main stations and the Quay
- Wynyard Station700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Central Station2.5 kmWalk 32 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 16 min
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.
Read next
SightsSydney Harbour Bridge and BridgeClimbThe great steel arch over the harbour, opened on 19 March 1932; climb it with BridgeClimb.
Arts & CultureMuseum of Contemporary Art AustraliaContemporary art in an art deco building on the western side of Circular Quay.HealthThe Day Spa by ChuanAn underground spa at The Langham, open daily 7am–9pm, beside the indoor pool.