Tag Archives: Australia

November 10, 2014 · 5:35 am

Bartender — I’ll Have a Sydney on The Rocks

Campbell’s Cove

There is an area in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge known as “The Rocks.” It lies, more or less, in the area from Circular Quay along the western edge of Sydney Cove to Dawes Point. It is here that the first settlers from England set up home back on January 26, 1788.

George Street, The Rocks

Contained within The Rocks area are winding streets, charming façades, and reasonably priced dining establishments (comparatively speaking). That last item is no small feat in overpriced Sydney, which is now many times more expensive than it was on my previous visits. One such dining establishment is inside the Harbour View Hotel on the corner of Lower Front and Cumberland Streets. Make your way upstairs to the third floor for a fun outdoor dining experience (if it’s not raining, as it was on our visit), or sit inside near the bar. Both Ursula and I had pizzas. Her toppings included kangaroo — tasty, but a bit on the springy side as it kind of bounced back on you when you chew. Sorry. Couldn’t resist that one, but it was on the chewy side.

I hope you enjoy more shots of The Rocks area in today’s photo gallery:

Campbell’s Cove

Window on the Rocks

Australian Heritage Hotel on Cumberland Street

Initials is the shadow of the Coat Hanger

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

Tagged as Australia, Harbour View Hotel, Harbour View Restaurant, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Sydney, The Rocks, travel, travel photography, Ursula Wicker

Gallery

Fun Photo Friday — Sydney Harbour Favorites

Beneath the Bridge

Kayaking the Harbour

Taking the Taxi to the Opera

Lampposts, Tourists, and Texting

Sydney Harbour Bridge at dusk

Stuck in TIme

Heading toward The Rocks

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November 7, 2014 · 5:35 am

November 3, 2014 · 5:35 am

The Quay to the City — Sydney’s Circular Quay

A look back from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Making our way back around Sydney Cove we approach Circular Quay. Let’s face it — our Commonwealth cousins around the world really can’t spell. Never could. Never will. If ‘quay’ (a platform extending into the water used to the loading and unloading of watercraft) were spelled as it is pronounced, it would be ‘key.’ Which reminds me of a little story from my stint in England back in the ’70s. An English gentleman corrected my pronunciation of the word ‘schedule.’ “It’s pronounced, ‘shed-jewel’,” he admonished. To which I replied, “Did you learn that in ‘shoe-well’?”

Looking across Sydney Cove from the Sydney Opera House

Inside Sydney Harbour is Sydney Cove, which is bounded by Bennelong Point to the east and The Rocks area to the west. Bennelong Point is home to the Sydney Opera House, whereas The Rocks serves as the southern anchor for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a.k.a. “The Coat Hanger Bridge.” At the southernmost portion of Sydney Cove lies Circular Quay it’s five wharfs, numbered 2 through 6. Our Commonwealth cousins aren’t very good at counting either, it would appear.

Along Circular Quay approaching “The Rocks”

Just kidding. There actually is a very small jetty along the eastern edge of Sydney Cove that is used by water taxis, but it’s totally separate from the five main jetties. You can see the smaller “No. 1 Wharf” in this photo. It’s the white and green platform extending out into Sydney Cove just to the right of the gabled orange roof structure and white umbrellas.

Approaching downtown from Bennelong Point

Sydney Cove is a very vibrant and dynamic area teeming with vendors, food stands, ferry traffic, and lots of sights to photograph — not least of which are the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney “Coat Hanger” Harbor Bridge.

Along Circular Quay approaching “The Rocks”

Oh, and did I mention the abundant wildlife?