Why Circular Quay is the BEST Place in Sydney

Last updated: 25 June 2023

There’s no denying it, Circular Quay is my favourite place in Sydney.

There’s something magical about standing in the middle of a city as busy as Sydney and finding serenity in the breathtaking views of the iconic Sydney Opera House, magnificent Harbour Bridge, and the sparkling blue harbour.

During our recent visit back home to Sydney, I made sure that at least one of my free days was spent visiting Circular Quay so I could reacquaint myself with an old friend, a friend which has always left in me in awe.

Are You Planning a Visit to Circular Quay?

If you’re planning a visit to Sydney for the first time then I have no doubt that Circular Quay is on your Must See List so I thought it might be helpful if I put together a list of the BEST places to visit in Circular Quay to take some really cool photos.

#1: Circular Quay Station

One of the easiest ways to get to Circular Quay is by train, it’s on the City Circle line. Once you arrive at the station make sure you don’t rush off the train and head downstairs because you’ll miss out on the view. And what a view it is!

Take a moment and walk to the barrier and admire the view of Sydney Harbour, a view which is pretty much the reason why Circular Quay station is my favourite train station in the world.

Fun Fact: Over the years there have been various proposals to move Circular Quay Station underground to a less prominent spot but so far nothing has occurred. Fingers crossed it never happens.

#2 Visit the Sydney Opera House for photos of the Harbour Bridge and vice versa

The way in which Circular Quay is designed means that the two Sydney icons, the Harbour Bridge & Sydney Opera House, actually face one another which means that in order to take photos (where they fit entirely in the frame) means that you need to do it in opposite order.

The best place to take photos of the Harbour Bridge is at the base of the Sydney Opera House because you’ll be able to fit the entire bridge into the photo.

And, it goes the other way too. The best place to take photos of the Sydney Opera House is at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, right near the Harbour Bridge, because not only can you fit in all the sails but you can also include part of the harbour, which only adds to your photo

#3 Visit Dawes Point Park for a Unique Perspective

If you’re looking for a unique perspective of the Sydney Harbour Bridge then take a walk to Dawes Point Park. This is where you’ll be able to not only capture the bridge from a different angle but you can include some parkland to your photos.

#4 Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Of course, if you’re looking for a location which is pretty much the definition of unique view then you can’t go past the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. However, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of; First is that it’s pretty expensive to climb.

And second, due to safety requirements you won’t be able to bring your camera, phone, GoPro etc with you during your adventure. There will be a photographer with your group who will be tasked with taking photos and you will receive a free group photos but other photos will need to be purchased following your climb.

#5 Pylon Lookout

If the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb isn’t for you then the Pylon Lookout might be a little more up your alley ($15 per adult). If you aim to do this after visiting Dawes Point Park then it’s just around the corner. The Pylon Lookout is considerably cheaper and gives you the option of taking photos on your own camera.

You will ascend up 200 stairs to reach the top of one of the original 4 pylons and be treated to a world class view.

Fun Fact: Whilst the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb doesn’t allow you to bring your own camera, you are freely able to do this with Pylon Lookout.

#6 Walk Across the Harbour Bridge

One of my favourite things when living in Sydney was walking across the Harbour Bridge. Yes, that’s walk across it and not climb over it. There’s so many things to love about walking across the bridge – you see it from a completely different perspective, you can stop whenever you want to take photos, and you also get to meet lots of locals and visitors all enjoying their walk/run/cycle.

Best of all, it’s free! Take your time and soak in the view. It will take about 20 min to walk the entire length so if you plan on walking back then just factor that into your plans. Plus, if you do this on a sunny day, it just doesn’t get any better

#7 Just for Fun visit Luna Park

Now, if you decided to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge then when you reach other end you will only be a short 5 min walk from Sydney’s most famous amusement park, Luna Park. I recommend taking the short walk to the entry of the park so can take photos of this Sydney icon, something which will surely give you a smile as big as this.

Once you’ve finished at Luna Park then head back towards Circular Quay by once again crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. As you did before, take your time and enjoy the view.

Fun fact: Luna Park was first opened on the 4 October 1935 and has had quite a long and complicated history. After closing and reopening several times over the years, its current design has been in operation in 2004.

#8 Observatory Hill

The next place to take some photos of Sydney’s magical harbour is Observatory Hill Park, a park which has been referred to as having million dollar views but I’ve no doubt that it’s worth more than that today.

Observatory Hill Park is located in the historic section of Sydney known as The Rocks, and with sweeping views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour it is easy to understand why it’s a favourite for everyone who visits to Sydney.

Fun Fact: This was one of the places I was thinking of when looking for the perfect place to propose to Roma…

#9 Circular Quay Ferry Terminals

In my personal opinion, one of the BEST things you can do in Sydney is catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, another suburb of Sydney known for it’s beautiful beaches, bustling cafe scene, and gorgeous views.

If you decide to take the ferry to Manly then you’ll be happy to know that it’s very easy to organise tickets since Sydney Ferries are compatible with the Opal Card! You can find out more about how the Opal Card works here.

I’ve heard quotes that life is not about the destination but rather the journey and this couldn’t be more true about taking a Sydney Ferry because once you’re on your journey then you’ll start getting a stunning view. There’s views of the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and all the multi-million dollar mansions that are dotted along the harbour.

#10 The Sydney Opera House

One of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the world, there is simply no missing the Sydney Opera House when exploring Circular Quay. I’ve visited the Opera House more times than I can remember but I still get a thrill when I get stand at its footsteps and marvel at its beauty.

The best place to take photos of the Sydney Opera House depends on what you want to include in your shot. If you’re looking to capture all of it then as discussed in point 2, head to the Overseas Passenger Terminal just across the water.

However, if you’re looking to capture something a little more unique then I’d suggest taking a walk to the right of the Opera House where will you find a set of stone steps leading up into the Botanical Gardens, follow them up. Once you’ve reached the top then keep walking for about 30 seconds and you should now be able to fit two Aussie icons into the one photo

If you are looking for a variation of this type of photo then head back down the steps to the base of the Opera House and climb to the top and head to the right. From here you will be able to capture one of the iconic sails and the Harbour Bridge in the same photo

If you’re lucky enough to plan your visit to Sydney during the illuminating light festival known as Vivid, which generally runs for 2 weeks in late May to mid-June, then you’ll be able to capture the moment that the Opera House is bathed in striking colours which creates a sense of wonder, in the truest sense of the word.

Final Thoughts

There’s just so much to love about visiting Circular Quay in Sydney and I hope that this list has given you some ideas of where you should visit on your trip to Sydney 😊

Have you visited Circular Quay?

Did you love it?

Let us know in the comments below