The Rocks - Sydney NSW

[Guest]

I have just celebrated one of those special birthdays ending in a 0 (No - not 20,30,40,50 or even 60 ) and as a special treat we spent a few days in Sydney NSW staying in The Rocks area.

This was one of the first areas settled in 1788 shortly after the Colony's formation. Full of history, and beautiful old buildings and lanes to explore with stunning views of Sydney Harbour.

The view from our hotel room was a bit shabby Taken through a double glazed window.



Circular Quay has many fine eating places under the famous bridge.



This mural took my eye. It depicts Brown Bear Lane as it was in 1901. The lane is now gone, but on this spot the first pub in Sydney was built - "The Romping Horse" in 1789. It became "The Brown Bear" in 1836.



The Rocks has many pubs - this is one of our favourites. "Hart's Pub".

[EvaWood]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

I've visited this area a couple of times, and loved wandering around the old areas, and one time we went through the museum. It was a fascinating glimpse into a way of life in Sydney's early colonial days. I love the book 'Playing Beattie Bow', set in this very place.

Very enjoyable, thanks for posting.

Is the cruise ship the 'Rhapsody of the Sea'?

[Floribunda]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

I've visited this area a couple of times, and loved wandering around the old areas, and one time we went through the museum. It was a fascinating glimpse into a way of life in Sydney's early colonial days. I love the book 'Playing Beattie Bow', set in this very place.

Very enjoyable, thanks for posting.

Is the cruise ship the 'Rhapsody of the Sea'?

Hi Rosemary - Yes, you are spot on! Closely followed the next day by "Voyager of the Seas". Two very nice ships!
Watching them turn in the harbour and depart at sunset was great.

[Guest]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Happy birthday Lyn. Been there many a time. Looks like you were stayoing at the Continental - very upmarket.

[Floribunda]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Happy birthday Lyn. Been there many a time. Looks like you were stayoing at the Continental - very upmarket.

Hi Terry - Thank you. We were at The Shangri-La. Very nice. Right at the top of The Rocks area - ok going down, but a steep pinch on the way back!

[Wee man]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Four nice shots; congratulations on your tenth birthday? Hope you had a good time.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Such a shabby view! (Don't tell Mark though, 'cause he wishes for this view himself ).

Four lovely photos Lyn.

Happy Birthday anyhow (I'll be hitting that last one you mentioned later this year) & hope you've had a nice time up here.

I hope you are still where it's cooler than it would be back home (for you). I think my daughter is feeling grateful they've moved from Broken Hill to Nelsons Bay at this point of time. Mid 40 degrees is not exactly comfortable.

[Glenn S]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Nice photos. Love The Rocks, been there several times, great atmosphere and great pubs. Thanks for posting

[banjukes]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

A very happy birthday Lyn. I hope you had a lovely day. Lovely images with a bit of a history lesson throw in, very nice. Thanks for sharing

[Guest]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Love your view from the Shangri La, very chic!

Circular Quay, very good but you might have first flipped it horizontally to mirror it - and who would have been the wiser!

At first glance I thought the Brown Bear Lane mural was a sophisticated semi-mono conversion of the real thing - very good and well spotted nonetheless.

And finally Harts Pub which no doubt you left it unsteadily, and a few litres short of their house savy blanc :chr

And welcome to old age, darlin' !

(just kidding )

[Phill D]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Congratulations and belated happy birthday Lyn and thanks for posting those shots of the Rocks area. I was fortunate to visit Australia a few years ago with work and had a weekend in Sydney. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in the Rocks area and got a room at the top overlooking the bridge and the opera house very lucky I was. The hotel also had a roof terrace and had wonderful views over the harbour. If it's still there I'd recommend it to anyone and not that expensive either at least when I was there. Couldn't get over watching the little ant like people walking over the bridge
Happy memories, except for the journey back when I got swine flu and had to spend two weeks in bed on getting home

[Ann1e]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Belated good wishes for your birthday, Lyn - looks like you celebrated in style.

A great set of pix and they brought back many happy memories for us as we stayed five nights in Sydney back in 2001. In fact your shot of the harbour looks amazingly familiar. We stayed at the ANA Hotel - is it possible that this has now been renamed as the Shangri-La, as your view looks almost identical to the one we had from our room. I guess there may be other hotels in the area with similar views - we had a corner room with a view to the opera house from one side and to the bridge on the other.

We arrived late one afternoon, put our bags in the room, and made our way to Circular Quay as I couldn't wait to take one of the ferries. We had to take the one with the shortest route as it was almost sunset (we were there at the beginning of August). We took a wonderful harbour cruise the following day under a cloudless sky.

Regards,
Ann1e

[Floribunda]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Four nice shots; congratulations on your tenth birthday? Hope you had a good time.

10 - Yeah Right Ed! Can barely remember that far back! However I am going to cling to the Sexy Sixties and be 69+1.

Such a shabby view! (Don't tell Mark though, 'cause he wishes for this view himself ).

Four lovely photos Lyn.

Happy Birthday anyhow (I'll be hitting that last one you mentioned later this year) & hope you've had a nice time up here.

I hope you are still where it's cooler than it would be back home (for you). I think my daughter is feeling grateful they've moved from Broken Hill to Nelsons Bay at this point of time. Mid 40 degrees is not exactly comfortable.

Thanks Ross - We had a great 4 days. Is there anywhere more beautiful than your harbour on a clear blue sunny day? I don't think so.
We are in our fourth day of over 40 degrees - a change is due in tonight, thank goodness. The garden is scorched and I can only hope that the preparations I did early in summer hold up. At least we missed a couple of those hot days.

Nice photos. Love The Rocks, been there several times, great atmosphere and great pubs. Thanks for posting

Thanks for looking Glenn. Sydneysiders love their pubs - with just cause!

[Floribunda]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

A very happy birthday Lyn. I hope you had a lovely day. Lovely images with a bit of a history lesson throw in, very nice. Thanks for sharing

Hi Connor, Thank you.

Love your view from the Shangri La, very chic!

Circular Quay, very good but you might have first flipped it horizontally to mirror it - and who would have been the wiser!

At first glance I thought the Brown Bear Lane mural was a sophisticated semi-mono conversion of the real thing - very good and well spotted nonetheless.

And finally Harts Pub which no doubt you left it unsteadily, and a few litres short of their house savy blanc :chr

And welcome to old age, darlin' !

(just kidding )

Thanks Mark - I must say that it took careful navigation down those very steep lanes from Hart's Pub! No Savvy this time - those Boutique Beers took a bit of beating!

Congratulations and belated happy birthday Lyn and thanks for posting those shots of the Rocks area. I was fortunate to visit Australia a few years ago with work and had a weekend in Sydney. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in the Rocks area and got a room at the top overlooking the bridge and the opera house very lucky I was. The hotel also had a roof terrace and had wonderful views over the harbour. If it's still there I'd recommend it to anyone and not that expensive either at least when I was there. Couldn't get over watching the little ant like people walking over the bridge
Happy memories, except for the journey back when I got swine flu and had to spend two weeks in bed on getting home

Hi Phill, after our few days of complete indulgence we probably deserved a dose of "Piggy Flu". But all is well, and lots of lovely memories. Thank you for the birthday wishes.

[Floribunda]

Re: The Rocks - Sydney NSW

Belated good wishes for your birthday, Lyn - looks like you celebrated in style.

A great set of pix and they brought back many happy memories for us as we stayed five nights in Sydney back in 2001. In fact your shot of the harbour looks amazingly familiar. We stayed at the ANA Hotel - is it possible that this has now been renamed as the Shangri-La, as your view looks almost identical to the one we had from our room. I guess there may be other hotels in the area with similar views - we had a corner room with a view to the opera house from one side and to the bridge on the other.

We arrived late one afternoon, put our bags in the room, and made our way to Circular Quay as I couldn't wait to take one of the ferries. We had to take the one with the shortest route as it was almost sunset (we were there at the beginning of August). We took a wonderful harbour cruise the following day under a cloudless sky.

Regards,
Ann1e

Hi Ann1e, thank you for the Birthday Wishes.
The aim of the Birthday trip was to have a meal at Peter Doyles Seafood Restaurant. I adore seafood! You may have noticed it on the Overseas Terminal Wharf near the ferries. It lived up to expectations!
We were able to buy "Pensioner Excursion" Tickets for the mighty sum of $2.50 each that entitled us to ride on the ferries all day! There are some benefits in growing older it seems! We made good use of the tickets.
There are a swag of Hotels overlooking the harbour and they do seem to change their names from time to time.