This is one of Sydney's best walks, taking in the grand central boulevard of Hyde Park, the historic buildings of Macquarie Street, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Finally, the harbor esplanade winds through the Royal Botanic Gardens to Sydney Opera House. And it's all downhill.
*Bolded names and numbers in the text below correspond with our map of this tour.
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From behind Museum Station in Hyde Park, walk to the 98-foot (30-meter) art deco Anzac War Memorial (1), erected in 1934 to commemorate those who died in World War I. Inside is a photographic exhibition of the war.
The Pool of Reflection next to the memorial is usually used as a birdbath by seagulls, Pacific or black ducks, ibis, and water hens. Hyde Park was the city's first public space and Australia's first recorded cricket matches were played here in 1804. The matches subsequently moved to The Domain when space in the park became restricted.
From the memorial, amble north along the park's central avenue and cross Park Street. On the right, a wisteria grove in the Sandringham Memorial Garden (2) provides a heady perfume in the summer months. The gardens were opened in 1954 by Queen Elizabeth II in memory of King George V and King George VI.
Return to the central avenue and continue northward to arrive at the Archibald Fountain (3), which dates from 1932. J.F. Archibald founded the Bulletin magazine (Australia's version of Time) and established the Archibald Prize for portraiture in 1920. Just west of the fountain on the city (left) side is a giant outdoor chess set, generally in use every lunchtime during the week. The central avenue is lit up with fairy lights at night and visitors may spy possums scurrying across the lawns after dusk falls.
On College Street, which runs parallel to the central path on the east side of the park, is St. Mary's Cathedral (Corner of College and Cathedral Sts.). Free tours on Sundays at noon include the extraordinary mosaic floor of the cathedral's crypt. It took dedicated local artisans, the Melocco brothers, 16 years (1930–1946) to complete. They also created the floor of the Mitchell and Dixson Libraries foyer within the State Library of N.S.W., farther along Macquarie Street, and the State Theatre foyer. Also on College Street is the Australian Museum.
At the northern end of the park's central avenue, enter Macquarie Street, with statues of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, on the left and right respectively. Francis Greenway's St. James Church (1822) is on the left, and his Hyde Park Barracks are on the right. Sydney Mint, next door to the barracks, now houses the offices of the Historic Houses Trust.
Next to Sydney Mint is the Sydney Hospital (4). Outside is "Il Porcellino," a reproduction of the boar in Florence's market, Mercato Nuovo; it was donated to Sydney by a family of Italian surgeons who worked in the city. The bronze animal has a shiny nose that people rub for luck…well, it's worth a try.
The hospital itself has a beautiful central courtyard and fountain overlooked by the Nightingale Wing (1869), built to house Australia's first professional nurses.
Continue through the hospital courtyard into The Domain, or walk to the end of the block to visit the other Macquarie Street buildings and continue around the State Library of N.S.W. to the northern end of The Domain. Cross The Domain to the Art Gallery of New South Wales on the east side, then follow the path to the left over the Cahill Expressway into the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Keep to the path to the right, overlooking the water, to reach the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool (5). Charlton, a revered champion swimmer, was a gold medalist in the 1,500 meters race of the 1924 Paris Olympics.
From the pool the path leads northward to the water's edge to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair (6), a large seat carved out of the rock for the governor's wife, Elizabeth. Follow the path around the grand sweep of Farm Cove, exit through the gates of the botanic gardens, and carry on around the base of Sydney Opera House (7).
Westward, at 1 Circular Quay East (Tel. +1 612 9247 2937), you can get a plate of oysters and a glass of champagne or orange juice at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar.
The walk concludes at the bus, train, ferry, and taxi terminus of Circular Quay.
