| Can you take your family out for a day in | | | | The Domain, Sydney, NSW 2000t 02 9225 1700f |
| Sydney and not spend a cent? Pack your lunch | | | | 02 9221 6226 |
| and your comfortable shoes and make your way | | | | What's On? Line 02 9225 1790 |
| to Circular Quay. From there, the world is your | | | | Australia-wide toll-free number 1800-NSW-ART |
| oyster. You won't believe how much fun you can | | | | (1800 679 278) |
| have without spending money. | | | | The Art Gallery of NSW is open every day from |
| 1. Circular Quay | | | | 10am-5pm with late closing every Wednesday - |
| Since first European settlement, the Quay has | | | | 9pm. Admission is free. (Charges apply to some |
| been at the centre of Sydney's maritime life and | | | | exhibitions) |
| its heart of transportation. Circular Quay is | | | | The Art Gallery is well over 100 years old and is |
| situated around Sydney Cove and is the hub of | | | | the leading museum of art in New South Wales. It |
| Sydney Harbour. It is a stepping-off point and | | | | holds significant collections of Australian, European |
| booking area for most attractions based around | | | | and Asian art, and presents nearly forty |
| the harbour. Every few minutes, ferries leave for | | | | exhibitions annually. |
| destinations on the harbour including Taronga Park | | | | Walk back to Circular Quay and follow your nose |
| Zoo, Manly, Watsons Bay and Mosman. | | | | until you reach the Rocks . . . |
| Along the ferry terminals are a number of small | | | | 5. The Rocks |
| outdoor cafes. It is a busy pedestrian precinct and | | | | Nestled between the famous Sydney Harbour |
| a magnet for buskers of every description. Follow | | | | Bridge and Sydney Opera House, The Rocks is |
| the walkways to the Opera House and Royal | | | | Sydney's most historic precinct. It is traditionally |
| Botanic Gardens to the east or the historic Rocks | | | | the home of the Aboriginal Cadigal people and is |
| area and Sydney Harbour Bridge to the west. On | | | | the site of the first British settlement in Australia. |
| the east side of Circular Quay are its many | | | | It was first settled as a penal colony in 1788. |
| restaurants and stylish boutiques, along with the | | | | Convicts were put to work under the harshest |
| large Dendy Cinema. On the western side of | | | | conditions to erect public buildings and homes for |
| Circular Quay is the historic Rocks area with a | | | | government officials and free settlers. Cadmans |
| number of quaint shopping arcades and pretty | | | | Cottage is the oldest remaining building in Sydney |
| restaurants. | | | | and is a relic of this era. The Rocks eventually |
| Circular Quay is at the foot of the central | | | | grew from an open-air gaol into a vibrant port |
| business district and the older, historic end of the | | | | community. |
| city. Buses depart here for Bondi and the eastern | | | | Call in to the Sydney Visitor Centre on the corner |
| suburbs. | | | | of Argyle and Playfair Streets and pick up the |
| A 10 minute walk from Circular Quay is | | | | book "The Rocks Self-Guided Walking Tour" for |
| Government House . . . | | | | just $1. The booklet lists 31 historic buildings and |
| 2. Government House | | | | points of interest throughout The Rocks and |
| Macquarie Street | | | | guides you along a fascinating heritage walk. It |
| Sydney, NSW 2000t. 02 9931 5222f. 02 9931 | | | | provides one of the best morning (or afternoon) |
| 5208 | | | | diversions you will get anywhere. Encounter a |
| Free guided tours of Government House are | | | | maze of narrow streets, laneways and |
| conducted every ½ hour from 10:30am-3pm | | | | interconnected sandstone cottages and terraces |
| from Friday to Sunday. The grounds are open | | | | filled with shops, stalls, cafes, pubs and |
| daily from 10am-4pm. If you are traveling in a | | | | restaurants. Soak up the atmosphere and the |
| group, bookings are advised. | | | | tales of the days and characters of bygone eras |
| Government House, located in the Domain and | | | | - tales of shanghai'ed sailors, tough gangs and |
| overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens and | | | | colourful lives. |
| Sydney Opera House, was constructed between | | | | There are approximately 33 galleries, museums |
| 1837 and 1845 and is the most sophisticated | | | | and art institutions in the Rocks, many with free |
| example of a Gothic Revival building in New South | | | | entry, including the Museum of Contemporary Art. |
| Wales. Don't miss the outstanding collection of | | | | On weekends there is plenty of free |
| 19th and 20th century furnishings and decorations | | | | entertainment with outdoor concerts and street |
| in the dining room, drawing room and ballroom. | | | | theatre and great live bands in many of the pubs. |
| The upstairs rooms have been used as the | | | | The Rocks Markets are held every Saturday and |
| private quarters for the Governor, Queen | | | | Sunday at the northern end of George Street |
| Elizabeth and other members of the Royal family | | | | and as with any good markets, the enjoyment is |
| and visiting heads of State. | | | | as much in the atmosphere as the shopping. |
| Government House is within the Botanic Gardens . | | | | There is a walkway from Cumberland in the |
| . . | | | | Rocks leading to the Sydney Harbour Bridge . . . |
| 3. The Royal Botanic Gardens | | | | 6. The Sydney Harbour Bridge |
| Mrs Macquaries Road | | | | The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's |
| Sydney NSW 2000t 02 6231 8111 | | | | most well known and photographed landmarks. |
| The Royal Botanic gardens is open every day of | | | | The general design for the Sydney Harbour Bridge |
| the year (not including any areas assigned for | | | | were prepared by Dr JJC Bradfield after the end |
| private or ticketed events). Admission is free. | | | | of World War 1 and the tender for an arch bridge |
| November-February: 7 am-8 pm March & | | | | was accepted. Construction started in 1924 from |
| October: 7 am-6.30 pm April & September: 7 | | | | both sides of the harbour with cable support for |
| am-6 pm May & August: 7 am-5.30 pm June & | | | | the arches. The two arches met in 1930. It took |
| July: 7 am-5 pm | | | | 1400 men eight years to build the bridge at a |
| The Royal Botanic Gardens in the domain | | | | cost of 4.2 million pounds. When it was opened in |
| represent a 30 hectare oasis of "greenspace" in | | | | 1932, it was the longest single span steel arch |
| the centre of the city. Just a short walk around | | | | bridge in the world. The main span is 503 metres, |
| the harbour's edge from the Sydney Opera | | | | consisting of 52 800 tonnes of silicon based steel |
| House, the gardens occupy one of Sydney's most | | | | trusses. It is held together by approximately 6 |
| spectacular positions. It is one of the most | | | | million steel rivets. |
| breathtakingly beautiful settings you will see | | | | Today it carries eight traffic lanes and two |
| anywhere. Enjoy a picnic lunch sitting on the grass, | | | | railroad lines. There is a pedestrian pathway on |
| looking over the harbour, smell the roses, listen to | | | | the eastern side of the bridge and a cycleway on |
| the birds, get back to nature and view the | | | | the western side of the bridge. |
| outstanding collection of plants from Australia and | | | | Pylon Lookout, on the south side of the bridge, is |
| overseas. | | | | well worth the small admission fee. Climb 200 |
| Enjoy a themed self-guided walk at your own | | | | steps to the very top of the Pylon, where you |
| pace or take advantage of the free guided walks. | | | | will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views |
| There is a free lunchtime tour departing at 1pm | | | | of the city of Sydney. Find out how they |
| from the Palm Grove Centre every | | | | constructed the world's greatest arch bridge, |
| Monday-Friday (March to November). There are | | | | relive the magic of the opening celebration and all |
| also free daily guided walks around the Botanic | | | | the history or the bridge through three levels of |
| Gardens departing from the Visitor Information | | | | exhibits. The Pylon Lookout is accessible via the |
| area at 10:30am. Enjoy the knowledge offered by | | | | Bridge road deck pedestrian pathway. |
| the volunteer guides and gain an insight into the | | | | Rebecca Greg is the marketing manager for au |
| history and plants of these magnificent gardens. | | | | which is an Australia wide user friendly |
| While you are in the Domain, don't miss the Art | | | | accommodation directory. HappyStays has all |
| Gallery of NSW . . . | | | | your travel needs covered including |
| 4. The Art Gallery of NSW | | | | accommodation, car hire, airline tickets, travel |
| Art Gallery Road | | | | insurance and international accommodation. |