Unique Sydney: Circular Quay

With a prime location at the foot of Sydney's dynamic central business district, Circular Quays is an exciting place with colourful ferries berthing at the piers and chugging out onto the harbour. It also offers unequalled views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House

Circular Quay is drenched in history being situated in the inlet of Sydney Cove. Together with the adjacent area of The Rocks, it's the founding site for Sydney as well as all of Australia. Formerly a port and shipping area, Circular Quay is now a recreational and leisure zone as well as a transport hub.

One of the first things you'll notice about Circular Quay is that it's not circular. It's shaped more like a horseshoe opening out onto the bay. Other than the ferry piers and trains station, you can find scenic walkways, parks and eateries. It's a lovely place to sit and relax in one of the cafes and take in the Sydney sunshine. To the east are some trendy, upmarket boutiques and the Dendy Cinema.

Circular Quay is also home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Justice and Police Museum and the splendidly imposing Customs House.

One of Circular Quay’s famous spots is Macquarie Place a small, triangular park. Established in 1810, it was the first formally laid out public space in the young city of Sydney. It houses a number of historic artefacts including a cannon and anchor from the HMS Sirius, the first fleet ship, and an Obelisk which records the distances to various places in the new colony of New South Wales along the earliest roads developed there.

To the east is the Museum of Sydney which is housed in the Old Government House, built in 1788. The museum is a treasure house of lore and exhibits relating to the history of Sydney.

One interesting feature of Circular Quay is the Writers Walk. This is a series of some 50 plaques commemorating Australian writers (such as Peter Carey and Germaine Greer) and writers who have written on Australia (including D.H. Lawrence, Charles Darwin, and Joseph Conrad). The plaques, which are inscribed with the author's name and a quote, are studded around the International Passenger Terminal on West Circular Quay and on the walkway to Sydney Opera House among other places.

Circular Quay is also the perfect jumping off point for all of Sydney's attractions. Other than the ferries that depart for such places as Manly, Watson's Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo, many of the city's premier attractions are accessible on foot. From the southern side of Circular Quay, a walkway leads to the Opera House past the Royal Botanical Gardens; from the northern side, it's just a short, scenic stroll to The Rocks and Harbour Bridge.

You'll no doubt pass through Circular Quay on your travels around Sydney but you might consider making it your base to explore the city. Not only is it the most convenient location for getting around, it also offers a great range of Circular Quay hotels options including the Four Seasons Hotel and the Quay West Suites.