Harbour Walk 2

 DARLING HARBOUR - JONES BAY      

February 2012 

approximately 4km

2 hours 

Darling Harbour is a favourite attraction for tourists and Sydney-siders alike.

2.1   
 For the Bicentenary Celebrations in 1988 Darling Harbour's old shipping facilities were dismantled 

and a large open public space was created with parks and play ground, and lots of restaurants and bars. The Sydney Wildlife Centre and Aquarium, Chinese Garden, Exhibition Centre and Maritime Museum are there. Also many sight-seeing cruises start from here.  

Pyrmont Bridge is one of the oldest and still working opening swing-span bridges. 

When we moved to Sydney in 1962 my first walk with the kids was from our rented room in Glebe to the city across Pyrmont Bridge. And later we used to cross Pytmont Bridge on our way to work till the early 1980s, when the bridge was close for the redevelopment of Darling Harbour. The new Free Way is much better suited for the ever increasing traffic. 

Pyrmont Bridge is now a pedestrian walkway and the Monorail goes along there. 

The bridge opens on weekends around mid-day and that is fun to watch.

2.1 

Darling Harbour past the Pyrmont Bridge is called Cockle Bay. 

More restaurants, bars, nightclubs, the IMax Theatre is there and some nice sculptures. 

By the way if there are any steps, do explore. Most of them are open to the public, even if it looks like being part of a restaurant. The view from there is superb. 

Behind Cockle Bay is a park with a great play ground, fountains and a stage. Lots of events are happening there, often finishing with  fireworks. A little further on but still in Darling Harbour is the beautiful Chinese Gardens, so tranquil.

But I keep close to the waters edge, and walk around to the west side of Cockle Bay, 

past the Convention Centre and the Harbourside Shopping Centre,

and back to Pyrmont Bridge.

Of course I had to walk across the bridge and back again.

2.2 

The Australian National Maritime Museum is right next to Pyrmont Bridge.

Many interesting ships are moored there, including the replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, a Navy Destroyer, a Submarine, also an old three mast Tall Ship, and many more. Looking at these magnificent boats is free but one has to pay to enter the vessels. 

The Endeavour was not there on the day I walked here around, in its place was the replica of the Duyfken.

The new Duyfken is on a voyage to celebrate the Dutch landing on the northern coast of Australia in 1606, over 150 years before Cook discovered Australia in 1770.  

The Maritime Museum has a ‘Welcome Wall’. 

People can have the name of the family member who migrated to Australia inscribed.

Here is a good place to stop for the day if one had enough of walking and looking around, or if the weather turned bad. The ferry or a bus would take you back to the 

city. 

 By the way it is nice to go by Monorail all around and look at Darling Harbour from above.

2.3
But I am walking on and have good look at the tall ship James Craig, built in 1884.

 Pyrmont Bay was once a vital part of the harbour with shipyards, factories. Also troop transports left from here in wartime, and many migrants arrived here in the post-war years. 

Nice to have a coffee break and admire the lovely sculpture of a migrant family.

All along are signs with interesting information about the history of this peninsular.

Recently here too the old wharf buildings have been converted to up-market apartments, some with private boat moorings. In between are some nice little parks.

The of view of the city opposite from here is  beautiful. 

For a short distance one has to walk along Pirrama Road to Jones Bay. 

There are still some old buildings standing.

Wharf 19, 20 and 21 are used as commercial and professional offices with cafes and restaurants.








On this walk I had to stop often to look at the many interesting sites and enjoyed the great view. 

From here on Pirrama Road a bus goes back to  the city.