Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Rock-Quay Road
Start
Observatory Hill
End
Royal Botanic Gardens
Distance
4km
Duration
2½ hours
Start atop the peaceful knoll of
Observatory Hill
. Admire the view, then follow the curvy path down to
Argyle Place
, a quiet, English-style village green lined with terraced houses.
Across the road and slightly west, the
Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
is a contender for the title of Australia's
oldest pub. Head back down Argyle Pl and turn left into Lower Fort St. At the corner of Windmill St is the
Hero Of Waterloo
, a rival for the title.
Cross the road to teensy
Ferry Lane
. Here you'll find the foundations of Arthur Payne's house; he was the
first victim of the 1900 bubonic plague outbreak.
Double back along Lower Fort St to the handsome
Garrison Church
. Hook left into Argyle St and head
through the
Argyle Cut
.
Just past the Cut take the stairs to the left and head along Gloucester Walk to
Foundation Park
. Continue
along Gloucester Walk, turn right into Atherden St, then right again, passing Playfair St's terraced houses. Cross
Argyle St into Harrington St then jag left into
Suez Canal
.
Turn left into George St, Sydney's oldest road (ignore the goofy Harry Potter-ish street numbering). Head down
the stairs to the right to
Cadman's Cottage
.
Follow Circular Quay past the
MCA
and the ferry wharves. Cut underneath the train station to the fab-
ulously renovated
Customs House
. Head back to the water to check out the bad buskers and the plaques of
the
Sydney Writers Walk
. Continue past the
Opera Quays
apartment and entertainment complex on
Circular Quay East, which is disparagingly referred to by Sydneysiders as 'The Toaster'.
The heaven-sent sails of the
Sydney Opera House
are directly in front of you, adjacent to an unmissable
perspective of the Sydney Harbour Bridge off to the left. Circumnavigate Bennelong Point, then follow the wa-
ter's edge to the gates of the
Royal Botanic Gardens
.
