Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is an exciting and vibrant part of Sydney and is home to many major attractions

Looking east across Darling Harbour towards the Central Business District
Looking east across Darling Harbour towards the Central Business District cc licensed photo by mikecogh

Darling Harbour is a great place for a stroll along the Sydney waterfront, but be prepared to be distracted by its many activities including tourist attractions, dining, shopping, nightlife, festivals and more. There is almost no end of things to see and do in and around this exciting and vibrant part of Sydney where there are lots of things are happening both day and night.

Located at the western periphery of the Central Business District and the northern edge of Chinatown, Darling Harbour is very central and very easy to access by public transport. A Cinderella story, Darling Harbour was transformed from a decommissioned and run down NSW Railway's marshalling and freight yard, into a beautiful pedestrian friendly part of Sydney that is now very popular with tourists and locals alike. You can catch a Ferry at the Pyrmont Bay or King Street Wharf and enjoy a view of the harbour from the perspective of the water. You will often see a large cruise ship berthed on the east side of the harbour, an area now known as Barangaroo.

The harbour extends along both sides of Cockle Bay and beyond and offers a pleasant place to stroll and access to many of Sydney's major attractions. At the south end of Cockle Bay you will find the Sydney Visitor Centre and a little beyond that on the other side of Tumbalong Park you can enjoy a visit to the beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship.

During the month of December there are fireworks every Saturday beginning about 9pm. For more information about events happening in and around Darling Harbour you may want to check out their official website: Darling Harbour.

Nearby attractions: Chinese Gardens, Imax Theatre, Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney, Madame Tussauds, Australian National Maritime Museum, Star Casino and Lyric Theatre, Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew's Cathedral.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee:

Category: Local Flavor Landmarks & Historical Buildings

Address: Darling Dr
Sydney New South Wales 2000
Australia

Phone: +61 2 9240 8500

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4 out of 5 4 Star Rating
Based on 62 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

5 Star Rating Quintessential place to visit when coming to Sydney. This area has a lot of things to do. There's general touristy stuff like sightseeing on Pyrmont... Read More

Christina R. Aug-16-2023

3 Star Rating Darling Harbour is place to go in the evening for drinks and the light show. I went during the day when there just wasn't much going on and honestly, it's... Read More

Marlon T. Jul-23-2023

4 Star Rating A very busy and touristy area of Sydney now. But almost 200 years ago it was called Long Cove. But referred to as Cockle Bay until 1826. Governor Darling... Read More

Donna B. Feb-05-2023

Accommodations near Darling Harbour:

Directions

Train Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Light Rail - L1Harbourside or Pyrmont Bay0 minutes
L2, T1, T2, T3 or T4Town Hall7 minutes
T1, T2, T3 or T8Wynward7 minutes

How to get to Darling Harbour by Train

By Light Rail: Two Light Rail Stations on Line 1 serve the Pyrmont (west) side of Darling Harbour and access to the harbourside is evident as soon as you exit.

By Train or Light Rail L2: From Town Hall Station, walk north to Druitt Street and proceed west watching for the pedestrian ramp off to your right. Follow the ramp to the harbourside. From Wynward Station go right (south) on York Street then right again on Erskine Street and continue to the Wharfs (either is about a 7 minute walk).

You can also get access to Darling Harbour via pedestrian ramps from Market Street or King Street.

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Photo Gallery

Video


Video showcasing some of the fun festivals and events in Darling Harbour

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