THE ROCKS

History :

Sydney was first settled by the British as a penal colony on January 26 1788 when 400 settlers and 750 convicts arrived on the First Fleet of 11 ships. The convicts had been sentenced to transportation for crimes as minor as stealing food - though there were hardened criminals among them. More convicts arrived from England, and later Ireland. These and the soldiers sent to guard them were settled in the area named "The Rocks".

About Rocks :

The Rocks is a historical precinct of central Sydney, capital of the Australian state of New South Wales. The Rocks is renowned for its shopping, cultural attractions and wide accommodation options, including a string of prestigious 5-star hotels attracted to the area on account of its fantastic views of the harbour bridge and relatively tranquil atmosphere.

Location :

Located immediately to the north of the CBD on the western side of Sydney Cove, beneath the famous Harbour Bridge.

How to go :

By train : From Circular Quay station, the Rocks district is only a short walk along the western shore of Circular Quay and Sydney Cove.

By bus : Several public buses (routes 431, 433 and 339) stop at various locations within The Rocks. Many other bus routes pass by or terminate near Circular Quay and Wynyard train stations.

See : Landmarks the Sydney Harbour Bridge - the great "Coathanger" is visible from many parts of the Rocks. Indeed, a walk to the northern end of the area allows visitors to walk underneath the southern Pylon and approaches.

Bridgeclimb - recommended for a unique, if vertiginous view of Sydney and the Harbour Cadman's Cottage, 110 George Street North. open daily Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4.30pm, closed Christmas and Good Friday, admission free - the last relic of the small, relatively plain buildings that once ringed Sydney Cove in the early colonial period.

Interesting fact : the Cottage was originally built by the water side - with reclamation over the years, the shoreline of Sydney Cove is now 100 metres distant the Argyle Cut, a historic road cutting made between 1843 and 1867 the Garrison Church Museums and galleries Sydney Observatory, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, +61 2 9921 3485, 10am–5pm and of course Telescope.

A night tour can be booked (Adults $5, children $10), guided by an astronomer. Daytime admission is free. Susannah Place, 58–64 Gloucester Street, ☎ +61 2 9241 1893 (fax: +61 2 9241 2608). Sat–Sun 10am–5pm, daily during January, Tue–Wed booked group visits only (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday).

The modest interiors and rear yards illustrate the restrictions of 19th century inner city life. Adult $8, child/concession $4, family $17.

Colonial House Museum. S.H. Ervin Gallery, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, Rocks Toy Museum. Westpac Museum.

Do : the Rocks Self-Guided Walking Tour - the Sydney Visitor Centre, Corner of Argyle & Playfair Streets, publishes this excellent booklet. The $1 booklet lists 31 historic buildings and points of interest throughout The Rocks and guides along a fascinating heritage walk, providing one of the best self tours of a heritage area one could get anywhere.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge - for those who are good with heights and enjoy an unrivalled view of the harbour, a company called BridgeClimb organises excursions to the top of the coathanger. The tour check-in point is located in the Rocks at 5 Cumberland Street, tel 02 8274 7777. Bonza Bike Tours offers a Sydney and Sydney Harbor Bridge guided bicycle tour that starts in The Rocks and includes a ride over the bridge (and back) and a tour through Sydney's North Shore. The cost for the full day tour is $95 for adults and $75 for children. Lunch, beverage, bikes, and guide are all included. (info@BonzaBikeTours.com, +61 02 9331 1127, http://www.bonzabiketours.com/tours.aspx)

The Rocks Ghost Tours - tel 1300 731 971, Mon-Sun, $34 — tours deprt 6:45pm (April-October) or 7:45pm (November-March), book ahead. EatMid-range Pancakes on the Rocks. 10 Hickson Road, 02 9247 6371, fax 02 9252 2900. Löwenbräu Keller corner Playfair and Argyle Streets, tel 02 9247 7785, fax 02 9241 1613.

Food : An authentic Bavarian German restaurant located in a convict-built cellar Splurge Rockpool 107 George Street, tel 02 9252 1888, fax 02 9252 2421 - fine dining in the Rocks since 1989, sophisticated seafood with an Asian fusion influence, winner of the prestigious Australian Gourmet Traveller 2004 Restaurant of the Year prize, mains $54-$70

Drink : the Orient Hotel - 89 George St, tel 02 9251 1255, fax 02 9247 4569, email mailto:orienthotel@bigpond.com.au - housed in an historic building of the 1850s the Mercantile Hotel, 25 George St, tel 02 9247 3570 - one of Sydney's premier Irish pubs. The Argyle, 12-18 Argyle St. The Rocks.

Buy : the Rocks Market - far northern end of George Street, open every weekend, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, managed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, info tel 02 9240 8717 - over 150 stalls under colourful canopies, art and craft, jewellery, frames, photography, indigenous artwares, food and much more.

To stay : Mid-rangeOld Sydney Holiday Inn [15], 55 George Street, tel 02 92520524, fax 02 92512093,

emailmailto:bdm@oldsydneyholidayinn.com.au - rooms from $184

Splurg Shangri-La Hotel 176 Cumberland Street, +61 2 9250 6000, (fax 02 9250 6250, email mailto:slsn@shangri-la.com). Double rooms approximately $300 per night.