Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is one of the liveliest districts in the city. Besides its harbour that offers beautiful strolls, this neighborhood is home to some of Sydney’s top attractions: such as the Australian National Maritime Museum, the aquarium, Madame Tussauds wax museum, and Wildlife Sydney Zoo, where you will be totally immersed in Australian wildlife.

The area is named after Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831. However, it used to be called Cockle Bay and that is no coincidence. When the Europeans arrived here in the 18th century, this part of Sydney belonged to the Eora people who called it Tumbalong, meaning “seafood”. And indeed, the settlers quickly noticed that the shores were covered of all kinds of shells! Given that “cockle” is a type of shell, the name suddenly makes perfect sense! As an industrial port throughout the 20th century and an innovative hub for maritime activity and factories, the area gradually declined over the last century, before being completely redeveloped in the 80s into this vibrant, tourist-friendly neighborhood.

A favorite walking spot for both locals and visitors, Darling Harbour is full of charm and offers many activities for all ages. It even hosted five events for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, now that’s saying something!