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The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk

The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk, Sydney: Address, Phone Number, The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk Reviews: 4.5/5

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The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk

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The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk
4.5
6,564
#7 of 673 things to do in Sydney
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Top ways to experience The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighborhood: Central Business District
The Sydney Central Business District is abuzz with energy. Power brokers run to and from high rise buildings and after-work drink places, high-end shoppers tour venues like the QVB, and fine diners frequent the many celebrity chef restaurants. For a dose of culture, walk to the NSW Art Gallery, or visit the Sydney Museum. To escape the hustle and bustle, reconnect with nature at the Sydney Botanical Gardens or picnic lunch at High Park. No matter your interest, be sure to check the full calendar of events hosted by the city, from the Sydney Festival in January to October’s Good Food Month at Hyde Park.
How to get there
  • Circular Quay • 6 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
4,969 within 3 miles
Aria Restaurant Sydney
3,032
396 ft$$$$ • Contemporary • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
The Spice Room
1,024
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Bennelong Restaurant Sydney
1,428
0.1 mi$$$$ • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Cafe Sydney
4,193
0.3 mi$$$$ • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Quay Restaurant
2,050
0.3 mi$$$$ • International • Contemporary • Fusion
Opera Bar
1,995
421 ft$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Bar • Australian
Graze MCA
506
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
William Blue Dining
503
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • European • Healthy • Australian
Four Frogs Creperie Circular Quay
426
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • French • Cafe
Gelato Messina Circular Quay
350
0.3 mi$ • Australian • Gluten Free Options
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Attractions
717 within 6 miles
Government House
267
245 ftHistoric Sites • Government Buildings
Sydney Harbour
21,859
0.2 miBodies of Water
Sydney Opera House
24,309
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Opera Australia
1,074
0.2 miOperas
Shopper Hopper
81
0.1 miFerries
Sydney Ferries
21,225
0.2 miFerries
Sydney Writers Walk
6
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
The Australian Ballet
77
0.2 miBallets
My Fast Ferry
475
0.2 miFerries
Circular Quay
4,313
0.3 miPiers & Boardwalks
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
6,565 reviews
Excellent
4,905
Very good
1,507
Average
141
Poor
9
Terrible
5
Robert and Alex...
Sydney, Australia6 contributions
A beautiful day strolling through the beautiful Sydney Botanical Gardens via the Opera House.
We stayed in the city for my birthday celebrations Sat 17th April - the next day we walked from the amazing Opera House through the Botanical Gardens.
How beautiful it was on a bright sunny day.

The flowers and plants varieties were amazing to look at while we strolled through the garden, taking in the Harbour views including the stage set up of La Traviata.
We then went to Government House and signed the Condolence book for the Queen.

We stopped in the Botanica Cafe/Restaurant for lunch and drinks and then continued back to our hotel.

We spent hours there and it was such a beautiful day.
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Judith R
Sydney, Australia57 contributions
What’s next after seeing the Opera House?
All you have to do is follow the pathway away from Circular Quay to enter the Royal Botanical Gardens. First of all though, I’d suggest you follow this path around the edge of Sydney Harbour to the headland known as Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. The wife of one of the early Governors of the Colony of Sydney liked to walk to this point and sit looking out over the Harbour. This picturesque point is the best place in Sydney to take a picture of the Opera House with the Harbour Bridge in the background.
After this retrace you’re steps into the Gardens. On the flat there is a lovely lily pond and there’s a path which winds up to a restaurant (really good!) or snack bar, whichever takes your fancy. There are divergent paths - some go to a glass pyramid filled with splendid tropical plants; others go to a performance space where there are sometimes concerts in the middle of the day; there is an art exhibition space called The Palm House. Sometimes there are Exhibitions in the Lion’s Head cottage. Go online to find out what’s on at the time of your visit. There are two other main exits apart from the gate near the Opera House. One is near the glass Pyramid and the other is near the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Buses go from outside the Art Gallery to the Queen Victoria Building, another place worth a visit. If you don’t have time to take in the Art Gallery, just check out the shop for interesting Australian souvenirs.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia10,961 contributions
Take your time and see the view
Take a stroll from the Opera House to the Botanic Gardens, it's the best introduction you can get to the city of Sydney. The harbour views, over the cityscape and the gentle lapping of water ans soothing sea breezes are a mile away from Sydney's frenetic commercial life. You can walk through the Botanic Gardens and past the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This stroll will take 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how far and fast you walk.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pandd1946
Batemans Bay, Australia7,356 contributions
We caught the choo choo express
Whilst visiting Sydney recently, before we walked around the botanic gardens, we caught the choo choo express for an overview of the sights. They have some strange rule at the payment desk that you cannot buy tickets before the set off time. We found this quite strange and inconvenient. There is not much leg room in the carriages and the seats are hard and uncomfortable and the ride is bumpy in places. It stops off at a few destinations where you can alight and rejoin the train at a later time. The commentary by Lorna we found very good and clear.
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Funambulator
The Rocks, Australia1,771 contributions
The ubër-scenic stroll to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
Solo
Very popular walk in good weather allowing views of both the harbour on the starboard side of the Opera House and the ever expansive grounds of the Botanic Gardens. City workers in Reeboks pound up and down the path while the masses stroll along at a much more leisurely pace. I’ve always thought this most scenic of walks cries out for a specific name! But no one seems to have come up with anything either appropriate or sufficiently snappy and memorable enough.The walk to the rather crudely constructed Mrs Macquarie’s Chair takes only around 20 minutes to do, even at half-rat speed. There’s an interesting old gate (Yurong Gate) about three-quarters of the way which demarcates the Botanic Gardens from the Government Domain. Inside the gate is the open air cinema operated during summer by the Apex Bank. Something else of interest are the large overhangs of the rock cliff just before Mrs Mac’s Chair. The Chair offers the best views of what must have been one of the world’s smallest film sets - Ft Denison AKA Pinchgut. Ealing Studios made its final ever film here in 1959 before the British company folded. From Mrs Mac’s Chair, you can either backtrack or continue on a loop walk round to the NSW Art Gallery and the city.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MilkoHastings_UK
Bexhill-on-Sea, UK413 contributions
Nice waterside walk
Well worth a stroll along here. Boats of all shapes and sizes on one side and the fabulous botanic gardens on the other. The opera house will be in front or behind you depending on direction of travel.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
georgedcampbell
Leicester, UK46 contributions
Walk through the Botanics taking in the plants and birds
We with doing. We went through the Botanics taking in the Shop and Restaurant before proceeding down to the Opera House. We visited the Sho and ate at the Restaurant which was popular among the other visitors. The walks are well signposted and there is a resident population of tourist food snatching kookaburras offering good photo opportunities. Good views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Nice easy walk
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Manickjg
1,252 contributions
Such an enjoyable thing to do!
Walking to the Royal Botanic Garden from the Opera House is very easy and accessible. You are walking along the foreshore and so experience the beautiful Sydney Harbour. The walk is flat so very easy for all ages and if you have young children you can consider taking a train ride at a cost. The gardens are well kept and beautiful to walk in - a very enjoyable thing to do!
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Juice P
Cronulla, Australia111 contributions
Great way to see opera house
Friends
This is one of the best walks in Sydney and its free.
Just head down to the opera house and head towards the right(east) or towards the open ocean. This walk will take you past mrs Macquarie chair (carved into sand stone) and great picture spot
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia10,961 contributions
Showcasing the beautiful city
Many visitors say that Sydney is one of the world's most beautiful cities. The walk from the Opera House to the Botanic Gardens will take you through some attractive areas. Take a look at Mrs Macquarie's Chair, which is near the Botanic Gardens. Following this path, you will also get a good view of the Harbor, which is Sydney's crowning glory. No other Australian city can match Sydney for beauty, with its splendid harbor, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.
Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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