Campbells Cove, Sydney, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Campbells Cove is a small bay on the western side of Sydney Cove, in The Rocks, Sydney, just a short walk from Circular Quay. It is named after the early merchant Robert Campbell and is now a waterfront stretch with harbour views, sandstone art and a link to the colony's turbulent early years.

The story behind it

The cove takes its name from Robert Campbell, one of the first prominent merchants of colonial Sydney. He traded along the route between India and the colony and built a business on the waterfront here. His name is tied to the early commercial life of the settlement.

The period he worked in was a rough one. In 1808 soldiers of the New South Wales Corps marched on Government House and arrested Governor William Bligh in the Rum Rebellion, and the colony slid into disorder. Lachlan Macquarie was sent out to restore order. He brought his own 73rd Regiment to replace the Corps, introduced a proper currency and gave colonial life more structure.

What to look for

• Look for the carved sandstone pieces by the artist G.W. Bot, which he calls Glyphs, around the Park Hyatt and outside it.
• Study the patterns in the Glyphs and decide what you see: an abstract landscape, a topographic map, branches and twigs, or the tracks of moths on a scribbly gum.
• Look across the water for the views toward Circular Quay and the harbour, which show how close the old trading waterfront sits to the modern city.
• Notice the weathered sandstone of the buildings and walls around the cove, the local stone that built much of early Sydney.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the cove itself, longer if you stop for a coffee or a meal nearby.
• Go in the morning for softer light and fewer people, or near sunset when the harbour colours change.
• Combine it with the rest of The Rocks, Circular Quay and the walk toward the Harbour Bridge, all within easy walking distance.
• The waterfront is outdoors and open to walk through. The Park Hyatt is a hotel, so check what is open to non-guests before going inside.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in The Rocks, Sydney passes through this part of The Rocks on foot. The app tells you about each place as you reach it and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It suits a reader who likes a crime story with their sightseeing. One ticket covers the whole group.

Highlights of Sydney: From Prison to Freedom Land is a good fit if you want the cove placed in the wider story of early Sydney. You reach it as one stop of a longer walk through the area, hear about it on the spot and solve a puzzle there. One ticket covers the whole group.

Street Art of Sydney: Catch an Art Thief suits anyone who stops to look at the carved Glyphs and wants more art on the same walk. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.