The Rocks

Yes it does have tourist trap elements and you may well come across people sporting a bushman’s style hat replete with dangling corks or carrying a new plastic didgeridoo, but The Rocks is still worth a visit.

Its long, colourful and occasionally violent history is somehow imprinted into its buildings and alleys. Its fearsome reputation carried on until the early 1900s when the whole area had to be cleansed, following an outbreak of Bubonic Plague.

Today a plethora of shops, cafes and restaurants compete for patronage of both locals and tourists. The Sydney Visitor Centre has a knowledgeable staff that can provide good background information on the area as well as maps; they also run well-regarded tours including a popular Pub Tour.