Darling Harbour Information
Your comprehensive guide to Everything Sydney
Darling Harbour is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Sydney, with plenty to see, do, eat and enjoy! If you are hoping to dine in one of Sydney’s best restaurants, this is the place to visit for fine cuisine with an international flair. The Darling Harbour Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs and Clubs add pizzazz to the area and make it a popular spot for friends and families to meet.
As it is one of the most visited tourist spots in Sydney, those hoping to see Darling Harbour in a day will have a jam packed schedule! Also known as a commercial hub of Sydney, the area offers some of the best shopping in Sydney. However, if retail therapy isn’t your thing, there are plenty more Sydney Experiences in the area, including the Imax theatre, wildlife park, museums, gardens or why not try one of the Sydney Cruises from Darling Harbour. A favourite destination for entertainment and leisure, Darling Harbour is one of the greatest Sydney attractions and is a great spot to visit for the whole family.
| • Shopping at Darling Harbour |
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| by blair_25 @ flickr.com |
Real Estate in Sydney City CBD is an absolute favourite with International Investors, Corporate Companies, Local Sydneysiders and Interstate Investors. The location of Darling Harbour in Sydney, being one of the prime real estate spots in Australia, contributes towards a variety of Jobs in Sydney.
Tourist guide of Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia, including Maps
• How to get to Darling Harbour
• Map of Darling Harbour Sydney Australia
The Weather in Darling Harbour is close to perfect all year round. Averaging about 18 – 27 degrees in summer and 8 – 17 degrees in winter, you can understand why Darling Harbour is the most visited tourist strip and one of Sydney’s major attractions in Australia, pulling in millions of visitors arriving mostly by Sydney Harbour Cruise.
| • Sydney Venues | • Darling Harbour Business Trade and Services |
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| by AndyCunningham @ flickr.com | by betta design @ flickr.com |
How to get to Darling Harbour
Sydney Travel and Transport (buses, trains, cruises, driving, taxis, airport, emergencies
The location of Darling Harbour is ideal, offering a variety of Venues in Sydney
Sydney Experiences and Sydney tours to and from Darling Harbour. The atmosphere at Daring Harbour is electric at any given time of the day or night. The top and best restaurants of Darling Harbour will be packed with Sydney corporate clients, Sydney tourists visiting Darling Harbour and locals enjoying their favourite spot at Darling Harbour.
Tourists on a budget visiting Darling Harbour and Sydney will be surprised at the amount of accommodation options in Sydney CBD, including Sydney Hotels, Sydney Motels, Sydney Apartments, Room, Bed or Breakfast and YHA backpacker’s hostels.
You will find the Best Hotels in Australia in Darling Harbour, however accommodation around the area varies according to location and budget.
| • Historical Buildings Sydney | • History of Australia |
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| by Linh_rOm @ flickr.com | by woowoowoo @ flickr.com |
History of Darling Harbour
The history of the Darling Harbour tells a tale of its transformation from derelict docklands, to a sparkling tourism hub winning multiple tourism and industry awards. Before European settlement, the Cadigal people inhabited the area and called it ‘Tumbalong’, meaning the place where seafood is caught. In 1788, European settlers noticed the unusual length of the harbour and called it ‘Long Cove’. It was finally renamed in 1826 in honour of Sydney’s Governor of the time, Ralph Darling.
Initially, the area was developed from a bustling market wharf to a major industrial precinct. By the 1970s, Darling Harbour existed as an area for warehouses and made little use of its waterfront address. Ripe for redevelopment, the 1984 NSW Government decided to ‘return it to the people of Sydney after 150 years of industrial use.’ It was finally reopened in 1988 with over $1.5 billion of public and private investments preparing it for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Today, the harbour stretches from Paddy’s Markets in the south, right to the Maritime Museum in the north. It is home to some of Sydney’s best attractions, including the Imax theatre, Wildlife World, Powerhouse Museum and the Aquarium. It is also a central hub for New Year’s Eve celebrations, festivals and a sample of Sydney’s international flavour with restaurants from a diverse selection of the world.
Places of Interest Darling Harbour
| • Sydney Real Estate |
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Although it took eight years in the making, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was well worth the wait. The bridge serves as a linkage between the city and North Sydney, with eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks. Built in 1932 with 58 000 tons of steels, architects designed the bridge from each end, meeting in the middle. Sydney Harbour Bridge is the fourth longest spanning arch bridge in the world.
Building the architectural wonderment was an engineering feat of massive proportions and 16 people tragically lose their lives in the construction process. Also a controversial matter was the hundreds of families who were evicted for the construction of the bridge, given no compensation. This history is often forgotten with the bridge now representing as a major Australian iconic figure and is affectionately known to many as ‘the Coathanger’. The bridge contains 6 million hand driven rivets and while the pylons give the appearance they are supporting the bridge, they are purely aesthetic. The 503m span was built simultaneously from both ends of the shore, with 12m of sandstone foundation sunk on either side.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb has become popular with travellers as a way to soak up the intoxicating 360 degree view. Clad in overalls and a harness, the climb is open to anyone over 12 years old, fit enough to walk the incline and able to handle the height. Not for the faint hearted, at its highest point, the arch is 134m above sea level and 1150m long.
Less challenging, but still some 200 steps high, is a second look out. The SE pylon of the bridge (accessed from Cumberland Street, The Rocks) offers spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour and an exhibition about the construction and history of the bridge.
If heights aren’t your thing, the good news is there are plenty of less extreme ways of soaking in the view. For the best view of The Sydney Harbour Bridge, hotels like the Park Hyatt, Quay Grand Suites Sydney, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney and the Sebel Pier One Sydney offer unequal picture perfect snapshots of the architectural dream.
| • Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Bookings |
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| by calium @ flickr.com |
• Pyrmont Bridge
When it first opened in 1902, the Pyrmont Bridge was a mechanical wonder, with the largest swing span in the world and one of the first to be powered by electricity. Closed to road traffic in the 1980s, it was later reopened as a pedestrian bridge and now carries the monorail between Darling Harbour and Sydney’s CBD. The monorail rests on a pivot that allows it to continue to operate even when the bridge is open.
• Cockle Bay
Cockle Bay Wharf is part of Darling Harbour and houses many of Sydney’s premium offices, including the IBM Tower, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rabobank Tower and a 3000m garden. It is also home to an array of restaurants, bars, cafes, takeaways and event venues – a delicious sample of multicultural, cosmopolitan Sydney. Cockle Bay also boasts a dynamic nightlife, with a strip of clubs providing the final bang to your evening.
• Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is the largest premier event venue for conferences, exhibitions and special events. Located with superb views of the water at the Darling Harbour, more than 600 events are held at the centre each year. The Centre has hosted conferences from many of the city’s biggest name businesses and prides itself on excellent service and attention to detail.
| • Trade shows in Sydney |
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| by Roberta W.B. @ flickr.com |
• Sydney Wild Life World
Opened in 2006, Sydney’s Wild Life World is situated in Darling Harbour bringing Australian animals right to the CBD doorstep. Perfect for visitors with limited time and confound to the city, this centre offers visitors a glimpse into the animal, birdlife, reptiles and insects found in the Australian bush, swamp, forest and desert. Many of the animals are camouflaged in their cages so it may be difficult to spot them in their natural surrounds. Also, don’t be surprised to see wildlife rangers strolling the grounds with snakes or reptiles wrapped around them.
| Open daily from 9am to 10pm. | |
| Adults: | $27.10 |
| Children: | $13.80 |
| Family Passes are also available. | |
| • Australian Animals | • Sydney Zoo and Reptile Parks |
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| by alumroot @ flickr.com | by Chewy Chua @ flickr.com |
• Sydney IMAX Theatre
Sydney’s Imax Theatre is situated in Darling Harbour and is a major drawcard to both locals and tourist frequenting the region. With crystal clear images ten times the traditional cinema quality, the viewers will find themselves getting sucked into a world where pictures are so real you want to reach out and touch them. The cinema also has 2D movies, but for the 3D experience, you can expect to pay around $10 extra.
• Sydney Aquarium
Sydney Aquarium is a must visit for families with children – or even for those big kids who are still young at heart! The aquarium is an underwater adventure, touring through Australia’s rich and diverse aquatic and marine life. Located just a short stroll from Sydney Harbour in Darling Harbour, there are over 12 000 animals including sharks, manta rays, eels, platypus, fairy penguins and crocodiles. The newest attraction to the aquarium is the dugong pool, with two new dugongs to encourage locals and tourists to take a part in preventing their tragic extinction. For those that are more daring, why don’t you jump in a glass bottom boat and feed the sharks! The aquarium is open from 9am to 10pm with adult prices $31.95 and children $17.95. Family passes are also available.
• Sydney for Kids
| • Darling Harbour Attractions |
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• Sydney Casino
The Sydney Casino, also known as the Star City Hotel and Casino, is located on the Sydney Harbour and is the only casino in NSW. With over 200 gaming tables and 480 hotel rooms, there is also a 2000 seat entertainment theatre, six restaurants and eight bars. Set on one of the world’s most beautiful harbours, Star City has something to offer everyone. If gambling isn’t your thing, the restaurants offer a great variety of flavours and styles for every tastebud. The Casino is owned and operated by one of Australia’s largest entertainment and leisure companies, Tabcorp Holdings Limited.
| • Businesses for Sale in Sydney |
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| by floongle @ flickr.com |
• Chinese Garden of Friendship
If you are looking for a quiet break from the fast pace of Sydney, take a walk through the Chinese Garden of Friendship to unwind. Planted by the Chinese community to share their culture with the Australian population, the garden was a sister city initiative between Sydney and Guangzhou. Located in Darling Harbour, the garden is different to Australian gardens, with no planted flowerbeds or manicured lawns, but instead uses the wild aspects of nature like waterfalls, lakes and forests. The Chinese Garden of Friendship is open from 9:30am to 5pm excluding Good Friday and Christmas. It is situated at the southern end of Darling Harbour near the Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown.
| • Sydney National Parks and Gardens | • How to immigrate to Sydney Australia |
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| by Jax60 @ flickr.com | by Alex '77 @ flickr.com |
• Chinatown
With a large percentage of Sydney populated by Chinese immigrants – Chinatown is definitely worth a visit for its colourful Asian culture, shopping and cuisine. The area is heavily decorated as a major showcase piece of Australian-Chinese culture, with oriental architecture, street lanterns and archways. Bounded by George Street in the East and Darling Harbour in the West, Chinatown occupies an extensive area of Sydney’s CBD. The eateries serve authentic Asian dishes all day and sometimes until 4am in the morning. While the ambience of these food halls has little on other Sydney restaurants, the quality and reasonable prices leave visitors little to complain about.
• Tumbalong Park
Located in central Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Park has become a popular Sydney Venue for major Sydney events like Australia Day and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The 5 hectare parkland flourishes in Australian foliage with fountains as an urban stream. There is a large performance space with a covered stage and it has served as a key venue for concerts, festivals and a year long list of activities and events in Darling Harbour.
• Monorail
Take the monorail for a bird’s eye view of the city, travelling from the city to Chinatown, the Spanish Quarter, George Street and right over the shopping heart of the City. After this, the monorail winds its way past the historic Queen Victoria Building (QVB) and to the main hub for entertainment and dining – the Darling Harbour. The monorail stops at all of Sydney’s major attractions and is a perfect way of transport to ensure you see all that Sydney has to offer. It is open 364 days a year (every day except Christmas) from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 8am to 10pm Sunday.
| • Sydney Experiences |
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| by Br3nda @ flickr.com |
How To Get To And From Darling Harbour
How to get from Sydney CBD to Darling Harbour
- How to get to Darling Harbour from Sydney City CBD
- How to get from Sydney Airport to Darling Harbour
- How to get to Darling Harbour by bus
- How to get to Darling Harbour by train
- How to get to Darling Harbour by Monorail
- How to get to Darling Harbour by car
The most popular and scenic route to get to Darling Harbour is to catch a ferry from Circular Quay. Sydney Harbour Cruises
The Sydney Monorail is also an interesting way to journey, enjoying a breath taking view. The monorail leaves from the city at the corner of Pitt and Market Street and will drop you directly at Darling Harbour.
By foot, Darling Harbour is just a short 10 minute walk from the Sydney Town Hall, train station or China Town. To go by train, head towards the Town Hall station and upon arrival, turn right in Druitt Street, walk straight for two blocks, turn right into Sussex Street then walk one more block to Market Street, go left and cross the pedestrian bridge.
For parking at Darling Harbour, there are 12 secure lots available at an inexpensive price.
