Itineraries · Sydney

Macquarie Street to the chair

Walk · Sydney. ~3 km on foot, about 3 h, 4 stops.

Whole route in Google Maps ↗Open on the interactive map
Macquarie Street to the chair
Duration
~3 km on foot, about 3 h (≈ 3 h 26 min: moving and stop time only)
Who it suits
Everyone
Transport
walk
Start
Hyde Park Barracks
Finish
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Pace
relaxed pace
Best time
a weekday from 10:00, once the barracks are open
Budget per adult
the street and the permanent galleries are freePrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026

Getting there

Train to St James or Martin Place, then walk Macquarie Street. Pay with a bank card.

Stops in order

The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.

  1. 1. Hyde Park Barracks~1 h 10 min at the stop

    Convict barracks from 1819 and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1848 it became the Female Immigration Depot, housing an estimated 40,000 women. A free audio journey and more than 4,000 original artefacts lead you room by room, no map needed.

    Tip: Open daily 10am to 6pm, last entry 4:30pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. St James station is across the road.

    Open on the map ↗

    ↓ walk · 6 min · 0.4 km

  2. 2. State Library of NSW~30 min at the stop

    The country's oldest library, which turned 200 in 2026. A sandstone building on Macquarie Street with the Mitchell reading room, free exhibitions and the Shakespeare Room: visitors without a reader's card are welcome.

    Tip: Free entry. Galleries and reading rooms open Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday to 5pm, weekends 10am to 5pm. The café opens at 8am.

    Open on the map ↗

    ↓ walk · 12 min · 0.8 km

  3. 3. Art Gallery of New South Wales~50 min at the stop

    Sydney's main art museum in the Domain: two buildings, Naala Nura ('seeing Country') and the newer Naala Badu ('seeing waters'). The permanent collection of Australian, Aboriginal and European art is free; some exhibitions are ticketed.

    Tip: Open daily 10am to 5pm, Wednesdays until 10pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. General entry free, some exhibitions paid. Cafés keep their own hours, check the gallery website.

    Open on the map ↗

    ↓ walk · 18 min · 1.4 km

  4. 4. Mrs Macquarie's Chair~20 min at the stop

    The rock lookout above Farm Cove, named for Elizabeth Macquarie. The Opera House and Fort Denison sit in one frame.

    Tip: The lookout is free. Walk back through the Royal Botanic Garden, or take a bus from the Opera House.

    Open on the map ↗

Before you go

  • Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
  • Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
  • On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.