Darling Harbour

Things to do

It’s easy to keep kids entertained, with four attractions within walking distance. They can take selfies with their favourite stars at Madame Tussauds wax museum, meet the dugongs at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, get up close to koalas at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo or burn off some energy at Darling Quarter Kids Playground.

Dugong at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour

Make the most of being by the water and hop aboard a sightseeing cruise or discover one of the tall ships at the Australian National Maritime Museum. If you’re looking for something less active and more Zen, head to the Chinese Garden of Friendship, which is a tranquil haven.

Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

ICC Sydney is a purpose-built convention, exhibition and theatre complex that hosts world-class performances spanning theatre to concerts. Darling Harbour also holds a variety of food and cultural festivals throughout the year at Tumbalong Park, from the colourful lights of Vivid Sydney to a Winter Festival brimming with fireworks, performances, exhibits, ice-skating rinks and food markets. Check out the exciting events calendar to see what’s on.

Ice Skating, Darling Harbour

Eat & drink

Darling Harbour's food and drink experiences include waterfront restaurants, alfresco cafes and trendy bars along Cockle Bay, King Street Wharf and Harbourside, where you’ll also find souvenir shops and fashion boutiques.

Darling Square is a new food precinct – simply follow Tumblaong Boulevard for two minutes to get from the park to the thick of it all. There’s an array of food vendors, from Hungarian pastries at Kurtosh and Japanese-inspired burgers at Ume Burger to sweet and savoury all-day pancakes at Pancakes On The Rocks, plus fantastic coffee (and decadent donuts) at Shortstop Coffee and gelato at Messina.

Pancakes On The Rocks Darling Square

Beer lovers will make a beeline for The Pumphouse, one of Sydney's first microbreweries, or discover niche craft brews at Batch Brewing Company's new taproom, while Nakano Darling is a relaxed Japanese izakaya bar.

For some unrivalled water views, head to one of the many venues at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, including Atelier and Le Rivage Pool Bar.

Atelier by Sofitel - Credit: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour

Getting there

This lively precinct is only a 10-min walk from Town Hall Station in the city centre or a short stroll from Chinatown, Barangaroo and Pyrmont. You can also travel by light rail or catch a ferry from Circular Quay and alight at Barangaroo Wharf or Pyrmont Bay Wharf.