Circular Quay
Sydney, New South Wales
Perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour and backed by the sleek skyscrapers of the city’s central business district, Circular Quay is the scenic gateway to Manly Beach, Taronga Zoo, and Watson’s Bay. From this transportation hub—from which ferries depart every few minutes—you can enjoy unobstructed views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
As one of the busiest areas in Sydney, Circular Quay is a staple of most sightseeing tours. Nearly all hop-on hop-off bus and boat tours stop here and allow you to create your own itinerary, while walking tours of The Rocks historic area also tend to take in views of Sydney Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay. If you’ve got kids in tow, look out for Taronga Zoo admission ticket packages that include round-trip ferry transfers from Circular Quay.
As well as being a transit hub, Circular Quay is home to many open-air restaurants and bars.
A strip of Circular Quay has been nicknamed Busker Street due to the high concentration of musicians and street performers who gather there.
Circular Quay is fully wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
Circular Quay is one of Sydney’s major transportation hubs. Sydney’s green-and-yellow ferries run from Circular Quay to Manly, Balmain, Taronga Zoo, and Watsons Bay. The Circular Quay train station overlooks the harbor and ferry terminals, and most Sydney buses terminate outside of the station.
As a public space Circular Quay is open 24 hours. Ferries run from early morning until late at night, with the opening hours of restaurants reflecting the transportation schedule. Circular Quay is one of the most popular vantage points for the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks display, which explodes over Sydney Harbour Bridge.
You’ll find Sydney’s highest concentration of attractions by the water. From Circular Quay you can reach the iconic Sydney Opera House on foot, and then continue to the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the finest parks in Australia. Heading back in the other direction, you’ll find The Rocks neighborhood, formerly home to rat catchers, the Bubonic Plague, and whaling warehouses. Today it houses some of the trendiest bars and restaurants in the city.
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