Circular Quay and the Rocks

Short description

It’s all bustle and buzz down at Circular Quay, one of the great crossroads of the city. Ferries, trains, buses and light rail bring people from all over Sydney to work and play. This is Sydney’s dress circle, with the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden and Sydney Harbour Bridge framing that iconic harbour view. Around the water’s edge are cafes, restaurants and cocktail bars as well as luxury hotels and the striking Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Circular Quay
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Tucked behind the western edge of Circular Quay you’ll find the maze of cobblestone laneways, century-old terraces and cosy pubs that make up Sydney’s oldest precinct, The Rocks. Think of this as the place where the city of Sydney was born and the soul of that early colony still lives beneath the stones. This is where early settlers put up some of the new colony's first homes and businesses, and you can still find bricks hand-hewn by convicts more than 200 years ago. In among this living history is a thoroughly modern crop of stylish cafes, lively bars, quirky art galleries and chic boutiques. 

Circular Quay and The Rocks are always the stars of Vivid Sydney. See the city's most iconic sites, like the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Customs House and the Museum of Contemporary Art illuminated by spectacular light displays. Inside these world-famous venues, Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas will inspire with creativity and innovation. Follow the Light Walk along the waterfront and connect with individual bespoke pieces that tell the story of Vivid Sydney. See the harbour itself become a canvas for the world’s greatest light show. 

How to get there: Trains, buses and light rail services from all over the city will take you right into the heart of Circular Quay. You can also catch a ferry from Manly, Taronga Zoo and Luna Park in the north, or along the Parramatta River stopping at Balmain and Barangaroo. The Rocks is just a short and picturesque walk around the waterfront. 

This is an image of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay lit up during Vivid Sydney.

Light Events

Written In The Stars

Head to the heavens in 2023 with Vivid Sydney's drone shows, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere to date. An awe-inspiring journey through the natural...

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Written In The Stars Drone Show
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: Free

Losting

'Losting' is an invented word, describing that deliberate act of losing yourself in nature without any bearings or ties to our tech, in order to feel yourself...

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Losting
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: Free

First Light

First Light opens Vivid Sydney by celebrating and honouring the continuous protocol of our nation's First People with a unique Welcome to Country incorporating...

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First Light dance
Location: Campbells Cove Price: Free

Inside Out

A celebration of Australian interior design featuring beautiful hand-drawn wallpaper and fabrics projected onto the façade of Customs House – bringing...

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Inside Out
Location: Customs House Price: Free

Vivid Kids

Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Vivid Kids! Children are inherently creative. They are quick learners, extremely tech savvy, and, when passionate...

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Vivid Kids
Location: Cadmans Cottage Price: Free

Supernova

Ever look up at the sky and see a new star shining bright, as if it appeared overnight? Chances are it's a nova, a long dormant star that's decided to...

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Supernova
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: Free

WATERFALL

From a distance, the powerful roar of Waterfall invites closer inspection. Get closer, and the 20-metre cascade appears to be mysteriously hanging in mid-air...

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WATERFALL
Location: ASN Clock Tower Price: Free

City Gazing Sydney

With their ongoing global City Gazing series, VOUW recreates a view that very few humans would normally see with their own eyes: the Earth from space...

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City Gazing
Location: Dawes Point Park Price: Free

DANDELION

Make a wish, take a deep breath, and come watch Dandelion blow! This 4,000kg steel recreation of the flower's wispy calyx, also known as a 'pappus'...

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Dandelion
Location: Hickson Road Reserve Price: Free

Between You and Me

High up on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons, native Australian birds take us on a journey across the skies and to their homes, from the Centennial Parklands...

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Between You and Me
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: Free

Music Events

Paulini | Vivid Sydney Supper Club

Round out your Light Walk experience with the ultimate nightcap at the Vivid Sydney Supper Club. From 9pm 'til late on Friday and Saturday nights during...

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Paulini
Location: Mary's Underground Price: From: $69.00

Ideas Events

Vivid Sydney Photography Masterclass

Be inspired by a breathtaking front-row view of Vivid Sydney from the southeast pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, usually off-limits to the public, in...

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Vivid Sydney Photography Masterclass
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: From: $249.00

NOCTURNE

Wander away from the Light Walk on an immersive audio journey through the hidden streets and laneways of The Rocks. Let your ears lead the way in this...

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Walking down the stairs in moonlight
Location: Circular Quay and the Rocks Price: From: $51.02

Food Events

Light Up Your Senses at the Pylon

Take in the majestic view of Vivid Sydney from the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s South-East Pylon in style. Enjoy a red wine paired with a cheese box from...

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Sydney Harbour Bridge and Pylon lit up during Vivid Sydney
Location: BridgeClimb Pylon Lookout & Museum Price: From: $99.00

The Taste and Sound of Sydney

Under the illuminated sails, Opera Bar is serving dishes inspired by the city's natural beauties – the sparkling Harbour and the lush Royal Botanic Garden...

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The Taste and Sound of Sydney
Location: Opera Bar Price: Free

Deals