sydney.com.au

Circular Quay to Barangaroo Reserve and Darling Harbour Walk - Part 2

Marching on to
Barangaroo Reserve

Open PDF in new tab for printing

Continued from part 1 of the walk

The Sydney Harbour Bridge's giant, granite-cladded concrete pylons rise from Dawes Park, a pleasant spot to spend some time harbour gazing. The area on the foreshore under the bridge is a favourite spot of wedding photographers and it's not uncommon to see a bride and groom posing against the backdrop of the harbour. It's also a top place to sit on the wharf and admire the structure of the harbour bridge and the the sights on the northern shores of the harbour.

The walking path follows the foreshore and Hickson Road under the harbour bridge. If you follow the foreshore around you go as far as you can and have to step up onto the decking that runs alongside the Pier One luxury hotel. This is a good vantage point to stop and look back at the bridge and the sights of the northern side of the inner harbour.

The Pier One Hotel is set up in the first of a series of four redeveloped wharf buildings that line the foreshores of Dawes Point and Walsh Bay.

Walk down to the end of the Pier One wharf and you'll come to a connecting walkway to the other piers. There is a promenade running along the waterfront and the piers which comprises a row of mixed residential and commercial buildings. Restaurants are on the ground level and upmarket apartments above.

You will quickly notice that Pier Three is also set aside for exclusive apartments - some with their own boat jetties.

Walk to the end of the promenade and past Pier Four and the walkway turns to the left, where you now find yourself in Townes Place. Almost directly opposite is a small historic stone building that was once a weigh station, but which is now a tiny cafe called Bitter & Twisted. There is a pleasant outdoor eating area where you can stop for a coffee or lunch.

If you continue along Townes Place, following the water's edge, after about 100 metres you will come to a large roundabout. This marks the entry to the new multi-million-dollar, pulic rescreation area called Barangaroo Reserve.

Walk through the entrance to Barangaroo Reserve and the first things you will see are a large historic harbourfront building to your right - the Port Authority of New South Wales - and a steps on your left that has been enclosed with huge blocks of sandstone. These steps lead to an upper section of Barangaroo Reserve and the Stargazer Lawn, and a walking path that runs parallel to the foreshore path. There is a series of steps along the walking path that connect the lower and upper sections of the reserve and you can alternate between the two paths.

For now, continue along the foreshore path where you will soon come to an area beside the harbour where hundreds of sandstone blocks have been placed, creating a startling contrast between the orange and yellow stone and the blue hues of the harbour's waters. A top place to sit and bask in the sun.

The walk continues around the foreshores of Barangaroo Reserve and Millers Point until the foreshore curves around into a small inlet. You will notice a modern structure on your left, which is a three-story lift that connects the the Bangaroo Reserve foreshore to the Stargazer Lawn. If you go up in the left you are able to get a great perspective of where you have walked, and where you are headed.

The foreshore at this point reconnects with Hickson Road, the road that started in The Rocks and ran around the foreshore of Dawes Point and under the harbour bridge. In July 2016, foreshore work was still continuing on the area between Barangaroo Reserve and Darling harbour, which meant that to walk to Darling Harbour you need to veer away from the foreshore for a short distance and walk along Hickson Road. (Once work is finished the walking path will run all the way along the foreshore to Darling Harbour).

Continue to part 3 of the walk