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Guest Reviewer- Jason May
My Rocks Experience - Summer 2011
We sent guest reviewer Jason May and his wife Sharmane on a weekend in The Rocks to get a taste of what this historic area has to offer.
Holiday inn Old Sydney Hotel
My wife Sharmane and I started our Rocks experience by checking into the heritage-listed Holiday Inn Old Sydney Hotel. We were instantly in awe of its vast foyer and our room turned out to be equally as impressive, with spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Harbour View Hotel
After settling in, we headed out for lunch at the Harbour View Hotel where we enjoyed a bite to eat on the balcony as well as a few thirst-quenching ales. As the sky cleared, we knew we were in for an enjoyable weekend.
The Rocks Walking Tour
Next on the agenda was a guided tour of The Rocks. Our guide Brian walked us through the back
alleys and gave us an informative account of the area’s history. He brought to life bits of
The Rocks we see all the time but didn’t know much about, until now.
Wine Odyssey
Following our walk we made our way to Wine Odyssey where we tasted a few fine wines using their self-serve system. You buy a ‘credit card’ and swipe it under the variety of wine you’re interested in. You can then buy a taste, half glass or full glass of wine by placing a glass under a spout and pushing the corresponding button. It’s all automated and very, very clever!
Harts Pub
After a quick freshen up we went for a pub dinner in Harts Pub where we had a reservation. Our food and wine were delicious and I also tasted a couple of their brewed beers. I have to say, as a lover of the brown liquid, I was very impressed. The service was also excellent and we had an enjoyable time there.
Sydney Observatory
Emboldened by ale we made our way up to Sydney Observatory for an evening tour with the extremely knowledgeable Dr Andrew Jacob. Staring off in the northern dome we gazed up at Jupiter and the moon through a modern, computer-driven telescope. It was fantastic to view through. Andrew then led us through to the southern dome where we looked through Australia’s oldest telescope. As the sky was now a little cloudy we cast our eyes on the city lights below. I spotted Balmain clock tower and used it to tell the time – easier than looking at my watch! It was 11 o’clock and time to turn in after a highly enjoyable day.
The next morning in the hotel we were treated to a sumptuous breakfast buffet with equally great service from the staff. We had a quick read of the Sunday papers then packed our bags, but our weekend was far from over!
The Rocks Discovery Museum
First we popped into The Rocks Discovery Museum where Renae showed us through several rooms
dedicated to different periods and aspects of The Rocks. I found it fascinating. The hour or so we
spent there could have been stretched out to several and I highly recommend the museum to
anyone looking to find out more about The Rocks’ history.
Son of a Master Tailor
Next it was time for a little retail therapy. To prove shopping isn’t just a female pursuit our first visit was to menswear store Son of a Master Tailor. The owner Mark had just started up in George Street and made a lot of his own items. I took a particular interest in a handmade tie he’d created which showed exquisite workmanship.
Craft NSW
It was then Sharmane’s turn to get her shopping fix so we headed over to Craft NSW which sells art and craft made by Australian artists on a not-for-profit basis. Ruth, one of the ladies there, showed us a mind-boggling array of work. Sharmane spotted a lovely necklace which, with Christmas just around the corner, we bought, as well as a beautiful handmade card.
Finally, following our big breakfast we only needed a light lunch so we popped into The Fine Food Store for a wrap and cold drink. Continuing the shopping theme Sharmane also bought a few of the jams and spreads on offer. Our food was delicious and we looked out onto Kendall Lane, refreshed and relaxed.
We really enjoyed our Rocks experience and have a new-found appreciation for the area. Whether you’re a visitor or a Sydneysider, we can thoroughly recommend devoting some time to really exploring The Rocks!
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