The Rocks And Circular Quay

The Rocks and Circular Quay are two different places in Sydney, Australia and yet, they are closely linked to one another because they happen to share several things in common. For starters, they are both located near the Sydney main business district, with Circular Quay bordering the northern tip and The Rocks quietly settled on the northwest.

The Rocks and Circular Quay virtually lie beside each other, which should explain why visiting tourists cannot afford to see one while bypassing the other. Railways, train stations and ferry quays connect The Rocks to nearby Circular Quay and vice versa, enabling sightseers to conveniently transfer from one area to the other.

Shopping

Shopping is one other thing that The Rocks shares with Circular Quay and tourists visiting these two distinct. Circular Quay alone has many stores that offer world-class clothing, most of these situated on its eastern side. The Rocks Market, meanwhile, boasts of shops that feature quality gifts alongside locally-made handicrafts. Specific places at The Rocks that should be visited are Playfair Street, the Argyle Centre, Nurses Walk, and George Street, all of which carry that distinct Australiana shopping. Equally worth seeing are the duty-free shops that have contributed immensely to the popularity of the place as a shopping haven.

Attractions

Attractions-wise, tourists will find both The Rocks and Circular Quay two Sydney places truly worth visiting. The Rocks boasts of many historic landmarks, foremost of which is Cadman's Cottage, considered as its oldest building. There is also Dawes Point Battery, the first of several fortresses found in New South Wales.

As for Circular Quay, it is generally known as a transportation center having many interchanges for bus, rail and ferry systems. Its most prominent feature is the Cahlil Expressway, an extended highway running from eastern Circular Quay that crosses its elevated railroad terminal before finally joining the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The Sydney Opera House, along with the City of Sydney Library and the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a popular tourist destination, but if one prefers live entertainment, the Quay itself is the place to head off to. There are several community and national holidays regularly celebrated here, including Australia Day and New Year's Eve, both of which involve exciting and extravagant fireworks displays.

History

In terms of history, both The Rocks and Circular Quay have a long historic record between them long before the Sydney local government took control of their affairs. The Rocks, for example, started out as a 1788 prison settlement where tents were put up to serve as shelters for convicted criminals. These early settlers eventually excavated the famed Argyle Cut in 1840, a popular tourist attraction of The Rocks, just one of numerous archaeological diggings that the city presently showcases as part of its historic collections.

For its part, Circular Quay initially began as a shipping complex before it expanded into a vast transportation center that included bus and railway routes. Its railway station started operations in January, 1956 while its expressway officially opened two years later in March, 1958.

Originally, the Quay was given the name Semi-Circular Quay for this was its actual shape. Circular Quay, however, was eventually adopted for convenience sake.

Sydney Cove, upon which Circular Quay stands, is itself an area rich in history. In 1787, eleven British ships landed here to establish a colony for Great Britain, the first of many European foreign settlements. The ships, then under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, were eventually referred to as the First Fleet.

Places of Interest

Given a choice between The Rocks and Circular Quay, tourists are well advised to spend their time exploring the former since it features more attractions when compared with the latter. Apart from its many historic landmarks, The Rocks carry numerous parks, plazas, public gardens, theaters, and entertainment areas in its midst that visitors will definitely be delighted to have a tour of.

Of the many Rocks-based parks, two ought to catch the fancy of transient tourists. One is the Observatory Hill Park considered as the highest area in these parts where one can have awesome views of such attractions as the Parramatta River, Walsh Bay, the Harbor Bridge, and of course, the famous Sydney Harbor. The other one, wedge-shaped Lang Park, boasts of a vast grassy land coverage and an all-around sunny atmospherea favorite amongst Sydney professionals. Two large churches, namely, St. Patrick's and St. Phillip's, are set nearby.

Of course, Sydney-bound tourists cannot afford to totally ignore Circular Quay. It is, after all, the hub of transportation activities in Sydney and is obviously the fastest and most convenient way to explore The Rocks which is practically just a heart beat away.

The many Circular Quay terminals and harbors also happen to play host to several elegant cafes, bars, and restaurants which should be convenient stop-over sites for many tourists. The food and the drinks here provide visitors with much needed energy as they begin their journey to The Rocks.