4 Reasons to Stay and Play in The Rocks

The Rocks is the birthplace of modern Sydney and the place to get a history fix along with some of the country’s best contemporary art and entertainment experiences. With laneways, landmarks, a lively event program and some of the oldest pubs in Sydney, there’s plenty to amuse.

Insider Tip: If you want to get the absolute most out of your visit, why not join one of the aptly named ‘The Rocks Walking Tours’ or hire a bike and use your pedal power to explore the foreshore.

Laneways and Landmarks

The best pay to explore The Rocks is on foot and there’s plenty to delight at every twist and turn. Iconic attractions like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge offer Quintessential moments whilst Pylon Lookout also offers fantastic views of the Harbour City.

Tourists and locals flock to the open-air Rocks Markets, where 200 colourful stallholders display their wares, and many a lazy weekend has been spent meandering down historic laneways with their colourful handmade fashion and art boutiques and street food vendors. If you’re looking to enjoy a meal, many of the fancier restaurants – like Quay – offer those all-important harbour views.

Sydney Habour Bridge

Drink at the Oldest Pubs in Sydney

As the very first settled area in Sydney, it stands to reason that it’s also the place to find some of the oldest watering holes in town and the granddaddy of them all is the Fortune of War, which opened in 1828. Insider tip: Our hotel team suggest The Hero of Waterloo as a great off-the-main-drag alternative and The Argyle as your must-do on a Friday or Saturday night.

If you’re a history (and a beer) nerd, you can tread in the footsteps of convicts and learn about the larrikin gangs, plague outbreaks, the rum rebellion and the six o’clock swill with the gang from Dave’s pub tours. It’s a great way to get to know the place whilst you down a refreshing ale or two.

A Slice of History

Before The Rocks was established after the colony's formation in 1788, it was known to the Cadigal people as Tallawoladah. The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming tour not only offers great insight into the world’s oldest continuous culture but explores the saltwater heritage and the Cadigal’s spiritual connection with the waterways and foreshores.

Whilst, behind its lovely colonial sandstone façade, The Rocks Discovery Museum, houses a range of interactive displays that date from pre-European settlement to modern times.

Stay, Play and Romance the City

Location, location, location: Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks is a charming hotel in the heart of The Rocks district and just a short walk from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Alongside its unbeatable location, the hotel features spacious guestrooms with kitchens. A number of rooms include magnificent views of the Harbour Bridge and nearby Opera House. And nearby Aslan Coffee Roasters provide light bites and the perfect caffeine pick-me-up to start your day.

Fun fact: The Rocks was named because of sandstone rock shelves that were used to build the retaining walls and beautiful terrace houses in the new Sydney settlement. So, if you want to immerse yourself totally in the history of The Rocks, book a stay at The Stafford Terraces (part of the Rendezvous Hotel). These historic sandstone terrace houses were part of the colony’s hospital complex and are a part of The Rocks Urban Conservation Area. In modern times, these multi-level dwellings double as hotel lodging and are perfect for short and extended stays.