Nurses Walk
Nurses Walk
4
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The area
Neighbourhood: The Rocks
The first residents of the Rocks were convicts and sailors from the old nation. As the oldest neighbourhood in the city, the area's cobblestone streets host more than 100 heritage sites and buildings, including the oldest house in Sydney, Camden Cottage, which was built in 1816. Taste a “midi “ or a “schooner” of beer and dine “al fresco” on the waterfront at some of the oldest pubs in Sydney. The weekend markets at the Rocks are where you can find local artists' hand-made souvenirs, organic food and designer jewelry in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. To enjoy some of the best Australian and international contemporary art, the MCA museum is open every day and select evenings. At the end of a long day of sightseeing, be sure to save energy to dance the night away at the area's many late night entertainment venues.
How to get there
- Circular Quay • 4 min walk
- Wynyard • 9 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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1,075 within 10 kms
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4.0
71 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
42
Average
15
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia53,334 contributions
Oct 2020
Nurses Walk is a lovely spot. It has quite a bit of history behind its narrow little alleyways. It was created in 1979 to honour the hospital nurses who worked in this area towards the end of the 18th century. Now it is full of interesting galleries, cafes, restaurants, souvenir and other shops. Definitely worth wandering around.
Written 16 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frank M
Brisbane, Australia2,438 contributions
Mar 2018
Nurses walk is part of the history of old Sydney town. Not great deal to see.
A lot of plaques and signage. Still worth visiting and think of what happened in years gone by and the poor care of the convicts.
See pictures for the complete history.
A lot of plaques and signage. Still worth visiting and think of what happened in years gone by and the poor care of the convicts.
See pictures for the complete history.
Written 2 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bob2bkk
Bangkok, Thailand5,784 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Nurses Walk is located in The Rocks area of Sydney. As you walk up George Street, on your left, you will see a sign indicating Nurses Walk turn in and it is a small walkway that turns and runs parallel to George for a short distance and then turns back onto George. In here you will find cute little shops, cafes, restaurants, and history including the plaque to Lucy Osborn, one of the original nurses located at the hospitals that were right in this area. While in The Rocks area, it is a nice 15-20 minute diversion to see history.
Written 9 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LongReefHacker
Sydney, Australia234 contributions
Apr 2012
Nurses Walk, in Sydney's Rocks district, is a short, narrow passage between buildings. It's been well preserved and plaques explain the history of the walk. If you're wandering the Rocks (highly recommended), dont miss this quaint, pleasant little walk. (You can do it easily, reading all the plaques, in 15 mins).
Written 16 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blue_or
Ramat Gan, Israel546 contributions
July 2011
If you are headed to the "Rocks" for shopping and entertainment don’t forget to look around you might came arose a small sigh that says Suez Canal or the Nurses Walk. Take your time to be engulfed by history and think of those wonderful nurses who tended the sick when there was no antibiotics, x-rays or MRI just TLC ( tender Loving Care and empathy and compassion
Written 3 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jena G
Providence, RI12 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
Lots of shops and sights, but paves is uneven and hilly. Walk carefully and don’t rush. There is plenty to see and do.
Written 25 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stillerovaj
Prague, Czech Republic48 contributions
Jan 2019
The oldest part of Sydney with many great cofe shops, restaurants, historical pubs, galleries, There is special market . Museum of Contemporary Art - with extraordinary views of Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House from the cafe terrace. I love The Rocks. I recomended this place.
Written 10 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yandinazetland
Stonehaven, UK2,627 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
The Rocks has a number of cuts , vennels and walkways - always worth a look . Nurses Walk indicates where the first hospitals were sited in Sydney and provides a number of information boards providing an insight into the early days. An interesting way to enter the walk is to cut through a very narrow - ex sewer off Argyle Street - called the Suez Canal. There are some cutouts of some of the characters - the crims - who inhabited the area - tales of the Argyll Mob and the Cumberland Razor Gangs. All good stuff.
Written 22 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MelissaPeery
Arlington, VA561 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Any tour is going to bring you through the Nurses Walk or if you spend an hour or two walking through them, you are bound to come across it by yourself. It's good to realize you are walking the path that most of the first European female settlers trod at the end of the day as they were leaving work back to their barracks. The Rocks was a scary place at this time and they were escorted. Google it for a few more details.
Written 13 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stinkwink
Sydney, Australia7,225 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The nurses walk winds through the streets and stairs of the Rock, and if someone thinks this is the route the nurses used to go to the hospital, they're wrong. In 1979 the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority appointed this path for the memory and respect of the nurses who worked at the two hospitals in the most demanding times. Throughout the route, signs tell you about the problematic and sacrificial work of the sisters and the history of the first hospitals. A total of five trained nurses came from England, and as their help young apt women were chosen from the convicts. Lucy Osburne was the most prominent nurse who studied at Florence Nightingale and whose memory is promulgated by a plaque on the wall of the Nurses Walk. The knowledge of the facts spoils a lot on the romanticism of the place. Better than if we imagine that indeed the shoes of these sisters wore out these narrow lanes and stairs.
Written 28 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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