The Rocks

The Rocks is a historic district that stretches along Sydney Harbour's southern shore, featuring sandstone buildings, narrow lanes, and views of the bridge that spans the harbor. The area contains shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums arranged along winding streets that follow the original street plan from the early colonial period.

The area served as the landing point for the First Fleet in 1788, marking the start of European settlement in Australia. Over the following decades it grew into a bustling port and residential quarter, with most of the surviving buildings constructed during the 1800s.

The name comes from the rocky shoreline that once defined this area, and that geography shaped how people settled and worked here. You can see this history reflected in the way locals and visitors move through the narrow streets and gather in the squares.

The district is easily accessible by public transport, particularly trains or ferries from Circular Quay station. The narrow, winding streets are best explored on foot, so comfortable shoes are helpful and you should allow time to wander without a fixed schedule.

The area contains Cadmans Cottage, built in 1816, which is the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney. This small stone house shows how early residents lived in modest conditions and offers a rare look at daily life from that era.