A few weeks ago I spent a few hours walking around the Rocks area,
Below is a list of things you could do to create a relaxed afternoon of exploring.
The rocks have been a part of the fabric of Sydney for a long time. From early European settlement, the Rocks had a crucial role, but long before that the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation called this area home.
With the arrival of white came smallpox and other new diseases killing around 53% of indigenous people in the area.
Today if you look hard enough you can find evidence of both cultures, but sometimes you have to look real hard.
Combining the list below will help you on your way to understanding, it won't answer all questions, probably give you more, but it is so worth the discoveries.
1 Wander the lanes and read the plaques
Wandering the lanes is a fascinating thing to do in its own right, but the history of white settlement is brought to life with helpful information plagues all throughout the walk.
2 Find a pub or cafe to sit and people watch
After you have explored the laneways, read up on the fascinating history you, why not pull up a chair, get your favourite beverage and something to eat and watch the world pass.
My favourite place is somewhere on George st, there is loads of cafes, restaurants and pubs (including the Fortune of war, Australia’s oldest pub)
3 Visit a museum or gallery
There a variety of museum located in the rocks area, two of note are the Rocks Discovery centre and the Australian Museum of contemporary art.
Wandering the streets and alleyways is a great way to find galleries, but if you are looking for art, then check out the Rocks Art Trail map, this map includes the artist, maker and designer categories helping you find what interests you most.
Bonus content
All the above are easy things to do on your own at your own pace and could easily be incorporated into an afternoon or single day, if you are looking at taking things deeper then consider a themed walking tour.
Sydney & The Rocks Historic Walking Tour
All ages
90 minutes
10.30 a.m. & 1.30 p.m.
$32.00 PP
https://www.rockswalkingtours.com.au/walking-tour/
If you are wanting to go deep into ingenious life in the area, check out the walking tour. During this tour, you will be lead by Aboriginal guides who we'll help tie the old with the new.
The Rock Dreaming Tour
This 90-minute leisurely walkabout in the Rocks delves into the authentic history of Aboriginal peoples’
90 minutes
$45pp
10.30 am
https://www.welcometocountry.com/products/the-rocks-aboriginal-dreaming-tour-illi-langi
Check out the website to learn more
http://dreamtimesouthernx.com.au/Our-Tours/The-Rocks-Aboriginal-Dreaming-Tour
If you are wanting to check out my visit to not Just the rocks but also Circular follow the link to my video