It seemed like we were in Sydney for just a clutch of days, half of them whizzed by helplessly when the daughter fell ill. Still, looking back, we magically managed to do so much & more. My travelogue continues…
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It was a NIGHT ON THE ROCKS. The only day we managed to fix the kids at home with take-out (pizza, what else?), got them a bunch of films & drove for a trip out downtown. We’ve done The Rocks during the day before, on our last trip, but Sydney downtown at night is sensational. I’m glad we did it when we did, coz even though we thought we’d hit The Rocks at least once again, another night, it was not to be!! (Yes, the daughter fell ill).
The Rocks, a 19th century village hemmed in by Sydney Cove, Campbells Cove and Walsh Bay, lies in the shadow of the southern end of the Harbour Bridge.
This is the birthplace of modern-day Australia, Captain Arthur Phillip having settled here in 1788. From this, today’s Sydney has grown. across Sydney Cove from the Opera House, The Rocks district is a must for visitors to Australia. Here, buildings exuding the country’s historic past combine with today’s amenities to provide a unique precinct that caters almost completely to the visitors’ needs. There are restaurants, bistros, pubs, souvenir shops, weekend markets, music and entertainment along its main streets and squares.
If it’s a weekend, walk through the Rocks Market which may also be opened at night on special occasions. The Rocks Market is a great place to buy small pieces of art, knickknacks and souvenirs.
DHs friend knows the roads downtown like the back of his hand, so we first drove around a bit to take in the sights, & then parked near the Shangri-la. From there we ascended a flight of steps that took us up to the hotel, located in the historic Rocks district between the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. We went up to the Blu Horizon Bar on the 36th level … a beautiful, elegant, non-fussy place…that leaves you free to take in spectacular, panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House & the rest of downtown from different sides.
Uliana had gone all the way for her fave drink, the lethal sounding B-52. Unfortunately, it had been discontinued (I think because they aren’t flambéing drinks anymore). She was pretty disheartened & said, “If no B-52, then just anything else will do ; it doesn’t really matter”. What eventually came was nothing to write home about ( in her words, “just a bad choice with too many leaves”, …ha ha), but the views & the ambiance more than made up for it.
Next, we descended & walked down the Rocks to a lovely bar, Cruise Bar, in Circular Quay, which offered stunning views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and beyond. Their tag line…‘relaxed, waterfront style’…how true! The Cruise bar is a contemporary pub/bar, with outdoor seating offered as well as indoor; a popular weekend haunt. That night was a week night (Tue night), so thankfully no crowds to battle… just beautiful scenic views of the Opera House, ferries & downtown in light rain. We enjoyed refreshing fruity cocktails here, one was a raspberry base, & the other a passion-fuit. Very very nice…though I cannot for the love of me remember their names!
Time to trot again, we took a leisurely walk back over The Rocks, through the light drizzle, with the hair now frizzzzzzzy. Finally, & somewhat gladly, got back into the car, quite famished. It was the bewitching hour of midnight…& we headed for Harry’s for a bite.
Harry’s Cafe de Wheels Not a restaurant, but a waterfront meat pie stand, Harry’s has been serving the Aussie staple of pies with peas, mash and gravy to sailors, hoodlums and late night party casualties since 1945.
In December 2004, Harry’s was classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and included on its Register. Per the National Trust of Australia, Harry’s is a ‘quintessential Sydney icon’ and in the Trust’s opinion, falls within the following definition: ‘Those places which are components of the natural or the cultural environment of Australia, that have aesthetic, historical, architectural, archaeological, scientific, or social significance or other special value for future generations, as well as for the present community.’
Consequently, it has become a tourist attraction, decorated with photographs of famous visitors, including, strangely enough, Colonel Sanders. And the pies? Bloody good tucker, mate. Harry’s is open until 4.00 am Friday and Saturday.
Yes, the grub was good … while the men had hot dogs with the works, gravy & all, the ladies had pies with peas & mash. The atmosphere was festive even well past midnight. Harry’s located in Woolloomooloo…what a great sounding name. I love it.Which takes us onto another of Sydney’s landmarks, The Finger Wharf, just a stones throw from Harry’s. We sauntered across for a late night stroll, marvelling at the sturdy timber woodwork, the well maintained wharf….& of course, stunning views!
The Finger Wharfor Woolloomooloo Wharf is a wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, Sydney, Australia. The structure is the largest timbered-piled building in the world and was completed in 1915. During its working life for around 70 years it mainly handled the export of wool, but also acted as a staging point for troop deployment to the World Wars as well as a disembarking point for new migrants arriving in Australia. Today it has been redeveloped as a fashionable complex housing a hotel, restaurants and residential apartments. Woolloomooloo’s famous old Finger Wharf plays a leading role in Sydney’s contemporary lifestyle. The Woolloomooloo Wharf boasts a range of restaurants, bars and accommodation, but is perhaps best known for its A$14 million penthouse at the top, owned by Russell Crowe!
Hard to believe we managed to touch on so many beautiful & memorable landmarks in the span of 4-5 hours. It was possible…yes…obviously sans kids! Was a wonderful night on The Rocks. We wound up the night with steaming hot coffee at a 24 hour cafe in Parramatta called City Extra. There are two City Extra restaurants in Sydney. This one is on the western side of Sydney is a suburb called Parramatta, where locals go for vibrant night life and great gourmet eats. Their menu is presented characteristically in the form of a newspaper. And the restaurant’s international menu includes Aussie icons of meat pie and fish and chips, to pasta, to steak to a sweet mid-night dessert of ice cream.
No pictures taken there coz we just wanted to sit & unwind with our lattes & flat whites!
Returned home to find the kids in lala land. Bliss!!!
~ Thanks for being here…if you are still here that is! ~
lovely tour of the rocks deeba…and while i am sure the pics cannot be a patch of the real thing…the lights are spectacular…i can only imagine the view of the whole area….thanks for taking us along for the ride!!
I love taking the tour with you through this post. What a great vacation, I am jealous, dear. Never been to Australia before, too many snakes (LOL, kidding). Cheers, Elra
You have a wonderful blog and your creativity is amazing !
Your blog seems to take a LONG time to load up.I really want to browse your blog , but its so frustrating when i click on a recipe and have to wait quite a while for the page to load.
I think there are too many of those colorful widgets on your blog thats creating this problem. Do consider doing something about it 🙂 I’d love to come back and browse more.
Looking very glamorous Deeba! (Yes, even in funny-face in Pic number 9 😉 Looks like a wonderful evening– maybe there’s no crowd because it looks kinda expensive-ish O_o Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Seems you all had a wonderful time. It is always nice if you have a local friend who knows the way. You are so thin, if i baked like you i wuld turn out to be a ball 🙂 not that i am not a ball now. It is always a fight with weight with me.
I want to go to Sydney before I die, it’s a marvellous city and now you confirm it through your beautiful posts!!!! I met a writer in Budapest who also told me about Australia and Sydney in particular. All good things!!!! But it’s so far away from my country 🙁
What great pictures!!! You guys look like you’re having a blast. Too bad about your daughter getting ill. Thanks for sharing – now I want to get on a plane.
It seemed like we were in Sydney for just a clutch of days, half of them whizzed by helplessly when the daughter fell ill. Still, looking back, we magically managed to do so much & more. My travelogue continues…
She was pretty disheartened & said, “If no B-52, then just anything else will do ; it doesn’t really matter”. What eventually came was nothing to write home about ( in her words, “just a bad choice with too many leaves”, …ha ha), but the views & the ambiance more than made up for it.
Their tag line…‘relaxed, waterfront style’…how true! 
The Cruise bar is a contemporary pub/bar, with outdoor seating offered as well as indoor; a popular weekend haunt. That night was a week night (Tue night), so thankfully no crowds to battle… just beautiful scenic views of the Opera House, ferries & downtown in light rain. We enjoyed refreshing fruity cocktails here, one was a raspberry base, & the other a passion-fuit. 
Very very nice…though I cannot for the love of me remember their names!
Which takes us onto another of Sydney’s landmarks, The Finger Wharf, just a stones throw from Harry’s. We sauntered across for a late night stroll, marvelling at the sturdy timber woodwork, the well maintained wharf….& of course, stunning views!
Today it has been redeveloped as a fashionable complex housing a hotel, restaurants and residential apartments. Woolloomooloo’s famous old Finger Wharf plays a leading role in Sydney’s contemporary lifestyle. The Woolloomooloo Wharf boasts a range of restaurants, bars and accommodation, but is perhaps best known for its A$14 million penthouse at the top, owned by Russell Crowe!
25 Comments
arundati
lovely tour of the rocks deeba…and while i am sure the pics cannot be a patch of the real thing…the lights are spectacular…i can only imagine the view of the whole area….thanks for taking us along for the ride!!
Elra
I love taking the tour with you through this post. What a great vacation, I am jealous, dear. Never been to Australia before, too many snakes (LOL, kidding).
Cheers,
Elra
Mary
Thanks for this lovely tour around Sydney at least like this i’m less homesick . You can tell you had alot of fun !
Janaki
Deeba ,
You have a wonderful blog and your creativity is amazing !
Your blog seems to take a LONG time to load up.I really want to browse your blog , but its so frustrating when i click on a recipe and have to wait quite a while for the page to load.
I think there are too many of those colorful widgets on your blog thats creating this problem. Do consider doing something about it 🙂 I’d love to come back and browse more.
Pearlsofeast
Great to see to Sydney from a different angle. Nice write up Deeba. Hope ur daughter is well.
Bellini Valli
Thanks for sharing another part of your wonderful journey with us Deeba. I am travelling through you vicariously from my computer chair:D
Curry Leaf
Thanks for being my guide in Sydney.Lovely write up and lovely pics
Susan from Food Blogga
I have always wanted to visit Sydney. It looks lovely (and so do you). I hope your daughter is better now.
Bunny
I loved all your pictures Deeba, they are all wonderful!
noble pig
Now you are the hoodlum at Harry’s! What a fun night you had and a beautiful trip (most parts anyways).
Manggy
Looking very glamorous Deeba! (Yes, even in funny-face in Pic number 9 😉 Looks like a wonderful evening– maybe there’s no crowd because it looks kinda expensive-ish O_o
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Nachiketa
Still with you…..
🙂
Happy cook
Seems you all had a wonderful time.
It is always nice if you have a local friend who knows the way.
You are so thin, if i baked like you i wuld turn out to be a ball 🙂 not that i am not a ball now.
It is always a fight with weight with me.
Rosie
It is lovely to view Sydney though your photos Deeba. Lovely pics and write up!
Rosie x
Maria
Wow, looks like a fun place! Glad you enjoyed it!
The Blonde Duck
Stumbled across your blog and wanted to say hi!
Núria
Hola Beauty!!!… literaly 😀
I want to go to Sydney before I die, it’s a marvellous city and now you confirm it through your beautiful posts!!!! I met a writer in Budapest who also told me about Australia and Sydney in particular. All good things!!!! But it’s so far away from my country 🙁
giz
What great pictures!!! You guys look like you’re having a blast. Too bad about your daughter getting ill. Thanks for sharing – now I want to get on a plane.
Ivy
Thanks for another lovely travelogue Deeba. We enjoyed it with you.
meeso
Thanks for sharing, the pics are great!!! Nice to see you 🙂
Simran
This makes me feel like booking a ticket for Australia tomorrow
Lori Lynn
Hope your daughter is fine by now.
Looks like a splendid time in a great city.
nicisme
I wanna go!!!! Looks bloody great mate – I’m so jealous right now!
Lore
I’ve never been to Sydney but now thanks to you I feel like I won’t be a complete stranger to the city when I’ll be able to visit!
Gloria
Deeba, I love sooooo your pictures!!! xxxGloria