traveldk.com

Designed by Phillip Cox, this stadium (see Tankstream & Aussie Stadium) was completed in 1988 to coincide with Australia’s Bicentenary. Although the ground was ostensibly designed for Sydney’s preferred football code, Rugby League, it has occasionally permitted upstarts from the southern code, Australian Rules, to take to the field. During the 2000 Sydney Olympics it even allowed its turf to be trampled by soccer players. Aussie Stadium has also held several concert performances, which have included shows by U2, Robbie Williams and Barbara Streisand.

On the headland east of Manns Point and the Parramatta River (see Birchgrove) lies this pleasant park, site of Aboriginal rock art and bushwalking trails. It offers stunning views across the harbour to Goat Island and Balmain (see Balmain East). BBQ facilities are available, and it’s easily accessible from Waverton Railway Station. The park is cradled by the dormitory suburbs of Waverton and Wollstoncraft, the latter named after Edward Wollstoncraft, nephew of Mary Wollstoncraft, the author of Rights of Women . Edward was an enterprising local merchant who operated a shipping business with his partner Alexander Berry, after whom the bay to the east was named.

At the eastern end of the Balmain peninsula is the Darling Point Wharf, overlooked by manicured Thornton Park. A sign tracing the route of the Balmain History Trail can be found near the bus stop. On Darling Street, check out the former Dolphin Hotel and the Waterman’s Cottage. To the south, Peacock Point offers great views over Millers Point, Darling Harbour and the Anzac Bridge. Mort Bay Reserve to the north features two massive ships’ propellers and views over the ferry and tugboat maintenance yards in Mort Bay.

This area has some lovely Colonial homes, a small shopping village on Rowntree Street and Birchgrove Park, the site of Australia’s first Rugby League match in 1908. The northern tip of Birchgrove is known as Yurulbin Point, formerly called Long Nose Point, which, along with Manns Point, forms the mouth of the Parramatta River. Yurulbin Park has spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge, and an interpretation board near the ferry wharf provides interesting details on the area’s Aboriginal heritage.

A lovely bay that features shallow crystal waters, wind-sculpted sandstone cliffs, the magical Fairy Bower rockpool and protected Shelly Beach.

Just north of Watsons Bay is Camp Cove, where Governor Phillip spent the night after decamping from Botany Bay (see First Fleet Arives & Captain Cook's Landing Place) and entered Port Jackson for the first time. A track leads from the kiosk at the northern end of this protected beach over to tiny male-nudist Lady Bay Beach, which is overlooked by the HMAS Watson Naval Base. At the end of the track is South Head’s Hornby Lighthouse and several old gun emplacements (see South Head). This windswept headland offers spectacular views out to sea, across to Manly and the North Harbour.