Hey everyone and welcome to my second guest vlog here on the EF channel.
My name is Sofie and I’m from Australia. Today, I’m going to be talking about The Rocks area
and why it’s one of my favourite places to explore here in Sydney.
I’ll go through things to do, places to eat, and even places to just chill out
and wander around on a nice day in this iconic location. So, let’s get started.
As the EF school is located in the university area of Sydney,
it is a central location that makes it easy visit a variety of neighbourhoods around Sydney,
including The Rocks, which happens to be right by Circular Quay.
This makes it easy to access via bus or train from Central Station, or,
if you’re coming from a different area of Sydney, you can even catch a ferry there,
which is actually my personal favourite mode of public transport.
The Rocks is one of the most historic and beautiful neighbourhoods here in Sydney
and it’s right in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
As it is a very popular tourist spot, it might seem surprising that,
as a Sydney local, I’m choosing it as one of my favourite places to spend time,
but whether it’s a quiet Tuesday or a bustling Saturday,
I just love its cozy, old-fashioned atmosphere. The thing is, even when it’s a busy weekend,
you’ll still find little peaceful pockets and laneways hidden away from the crowds.
The Rocks is rich in colonial history, with cobblestone streets and beautiful heritage buildings,
so, if history or architecture is your thing, you’ll definitely enjoy it here.
There’s so much to see that you don’t even need a tour guide to come across some amazing locations.
Even though The Rocks area is kind of like a big museum you can walk around itself,
you can visit places like The Rocks Discovery Museum, or Susannah Place to learn even more.
On that topic, The Rocks is also home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, one of my personal favourites.
They have some of the best domestic and international exhibitions you’ll find in Sydney.
I usually visit there once or twice a year and, most recently, I saw the works by British artist Cornelia Parker.
If you’re feeling peckish, they have a rooftop café that has amazing panoramic views of the harbour,
so it’s a great photo spot.
On the weekends, The Rocks hosts open-air markets where you can buy handmade goods and street food.
They even have seasonal markets. During Bastille Festival, it turns into a Christmas-in-July village.
One of my favourite foods I tried there recently was roasted chestnuts.
I expected them to be crunchy, but they weren’t.
They’re very unusual, so definitely try them if you see them.
However, my favourite place to eat is definitely The Tea Cosy
where you can enjoy a traditional Devonshire tea complete with scones with jam and cream.
They even have vegan and gluten-free options if you book ahead.
Like almost everywhere in The Rocks, The Tea Cosy is inside a heritage building.
The walls are adorned with vintage tea cups and plates.
There are literal tea cosies on display, which are those little knitted teapot warmers.
I’ve seen ones that look like Olaf from Frozen, Pikachu and, more recently, Pennywise the Clown.
They are for sale, though, so the designs keep changing.
Be sure to let me know which characters you spot if you go.
If you’re looking for something more familiar, they do have a Starbucks there as well.
I know they have those everywhere, but hear me out.
It’s probably the cutest and most unique Starbucks I’ve been to
because it’s built inside a stone, Gothic Revival bank building.
It’s the perfect place to cool down with an ice drink or even warm up with a hot chocolate or coffee
because it does get quite chilly here in Sydney during the winter.
It’s only got a small sign out front, so you might miss it.
It actually blends in very well and it’s in this long, narrow space with really high ceilings and plenty of seating.
If you go all the way through to the back, they have outdoor seating on a laneway called Nurses Walk.
It also happens to be the location of another great coffee shop called ASLAN Coffee Roasters.
So, if you’re not into Starbucks, I recommend trying them instead.
They have nitro cold brew on tap and they serve my favourite oat milk, which is Oatly.
There are many more dining options in the area, ranging from casual to upscale.
They’re also very well known for their bars and pubs, although I’m less familiar with those.
If you’re feeling a bit fancy or need somewhere for a special occasion,
my favourite hotel in The Rocks is The Langham.
Even if you don’t stay here, you can try one of their many dining options.
I had a delicious buffet breakfast here once.
You can check out their day spa and pool, which is absolutely stunning,
or even just take a peek at its lobby for its gorgeous interiors.
It’s very Insta-worthy, so definitely take a photo with the signature pink taxi out the front.
If you’re looking for even more popular tourist destinations, The Rocks is home to plenty.
You can visit the Sydney Observatory,
Cadmans Cottage, which is the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney,
and you can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Taking you back to basics, I really enjoy relaxing on the little grass area below the Harbour Bridge,
maybe while people watching. This is really nice to do on a warm day.
Or even just walk from the bridge to Circular Quay while taking in the views.
While there are even more things to see and do in The Rocks,
these are just a few of my personal favourites that I frequent as a local.
I hope you guys found this video helpful and maybe got some ideas of places you’d like to visit,
especially if you are attending the EF school or if maybe you’re planning a trip to Sydney.
If you’d like to check out my videos, my channel will be linked in the description box below.
Thank you so much for watching and I’ll see you next time.
Bye!