AdBlock Detected

It looks like you're using an ad-blocker!

Our team work realy hard to produce quality content on this website and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled.

Tag: Sydney

Posted on

The Rocks Sydney

The Rocks Sydney Australia

The Rocks

The Rocks is one of the oldest areas of Sydney, and as such it has many historically important buildings to visit. We started our walk near the Fortune of War hotel and the old restored police building next door. Walking through the archway nearby we went to Nurses Walk and looked at the monuments to the original hospital located there and read a lot of the history surrounding the  nurses who worked there during that period. The area is now very trendy and full of eateries, nothing like its original use. However, it’s an interesting spot to visit.

Suez Canal

At the end of Nurses Walk is Suez Canal which is the narrowest street in the city. It was originally a sewer and a haunt of the underclass and criminals during the early days of the colony.

Suez Canal The Rocks Sydney Australia
Suez Canal

Cadman’s Cottage

At the top of Suez Canal is Harrington Street. We turned right here and again at Argyle Street, walking to George Street, where we crossed the road and walked down some stone steps to check out Cadman’s Cottage.

Cadmans Cottage Near The Rocks Sydney Australia
Cadmans Cottage
Captain William Bligh Near The Rocks Sydney Australia
Captain William Bligh

Returning to Argyle Street we walked down Playfair Street and its Cafes and restaurants, buying some excellent meat pies from a stall holder and eating them near some brilliant buskers. All this near the shortest street in Sydney, Atherden Street. This is a popular spot with great opportunities to take in all this place has to offer, including the statue First Impressions of early settlers, convicts and soldiers. 

  • Biggles The Rocks Sydney Australia
    Biggles
  • First Impressions Sculpture The Rocks Sydney Australia
    First Impressions Sculpture
  • The Rocks Sydney Australia
    The Rocks

Federation Park

The old row of houses in Playfair Street back onto one of the Rocks hidden gems, Federation Park, a rank of demolished cottages left as ruins. There is a small passage through the shops, or you can get to them from Cumberland Street. This area has been left with only a few enhancements to help show what used to be there. Some old rooms have been decorated with furniture, and stairs added for easy access. We found this a great spot to sit and relax.  It is very quiet and such a great place to see the history, without the congestion that usually goes with these hidden gems.

Foundation Park The Rocks Sydney Australia
Foundation Park

At the end of Gloucester Walk we took the stairs down to the Cahill Expressway underpass. This took us past Garrison Church and then to the Sydney Observatory, which were great to explore.  The observatory has amazing views of Sydney. 

  • Argyle St Underpass Near The Rocks Sydney Australia
    Argyle St Underpass
  • The Garrison Church Near The Rocks Sydney Australia
    The Garrison Church
  • Sydney Observatory Sydney Australia
    Sydney Observatory
  • View From South African War Memorial Observatory Hill Sydney Australia
    View From South African War Memorial

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Posted on

Paddington Reservoir Gardens Sydney Australia

Paddington Reservoir Gardens

How to Get To The Paddington Reservoir Gardens

The Paddington Reservoir Gardens are a hidden gem in the middle of Sydney. You will find them next to the Paddington Town Hall on Oxford Street. Well sign posted they are difficult to miss. We caught the number 440 bus from Central Station and got off near Town Hall, making it an easy trip.

Previously a major water reservoir for the area they fell into disrepair after being superseded. With the roof now mostly gone the interior and support columns are visible, providing a unique setting. With the previously underground reservoir now exposed, it has been turned into an amazing sunken garden. Stairs and walkways provide access to the lower section.

Wandering around the lower section is surreal, because of the structures surrounding you. The archways appear to be from an ancient ruin overgrown by the gardens. Cleverly designed modern stairways and viewing platforms blend in with the older construction.

  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens
    Looking Down From the Street
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens
    Paddington Reservoir Gardens
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens

    Columns and Archways
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens
    Columns and Archways
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens
    The Gardens
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens

    The Gardens
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens

    Columns and Archways
  • Paddington Reservoir Gardens

    Looking Down From the Street

What Did We Think?

A fantastic spot to visit and something different to the usual garden and attractions. Very peaceful with a surreal atmosphere in the centre of the city.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Posted on

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park West Head Beach

West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

The West Head area of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has some wonderful bush walks with fantastic views over the surrounding waterways.

Driving into the park you get to see lots of natural scenery, whilst on a good sealed road. The road has a lot of hills – with poor visibility at times, this mainly refers to the huge amount of cyclists (there were groups and dozens of single riders on the road).  We had to  drive slowly as it was not always safe to pass then.

We chose to do the Red Hands Track and Resolute Track to West Head Beach. There is plenty of parking available in a well sign posted car park. For us the first track was a little disappointing, with uninspiring bush land and badly damaged aboriginal hand stencils. The second walk however made  up for it, being a challenging  grade 4 walk. We liked it because is provided a different challenge to the ordinary tracks,with more unpredictable laid out paths and natural rock formations that we needed to navigate to continue on the walk. At the same time it was still easy to find your way through. At the beginning of the tracks, there are maps with details of each walk. On the tracks, you will be rewarded with an amazing views, beaches, wildlife, and Australian bush scenery.

Red Hands Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Red Hands

West Head Lookout

The walk commenced at the West Head Lookout, which has great views.  Take a look at the picture below! We spent some time here enjoying the views over Broken Bay before, planning our walk on the Resolute Track.

View From West Head Lookout Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
View From West Head Lookout

Resolute Track to West Head Beach

The Resolute Track took us through great bush scenery, climbing over rocks, enjoying varied stops to look out at the different views as we descended to the bottom towards West Head Beach. The track continues past the beach, but we turned here to walk down and enjoy all this little beach offered. 
The steps down and back up are steep, but the reward is a lovely little remote beach, with scenic inlet views and yacht watching.  If the weather is good, you could take your bathers and have a swim.  The walk is very hilly so wear good waking shoes, to protect your feet.  You can take your shoes off to walk in the water.

Walking around the beach we found some amazing weathered rocks looking like honeycombs as well as some great views over the water. We were the only ones there on our visit,  We sat on the rocks and had a bite to eat, it was very peaceful.

The return walk to the lookout was very steep, but we stopped regularly to enjoy the natural surroundings and take some photos.

  • Steps Going Down Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Steps Going Down
  • Steps Going Up Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Steps Going Up
  • West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    West Head Beach
  • Honey Comb Rock West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Honey Comb Rock

The Resolute Track and West Head Beach were beautiful and we really enjoyed the opportunity to spend the morning walking, savouring the great scenery and the amazing  views in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.