The following blog post about fun things to do in The Rocks, Sydney has been sponsored by Holiday Inn Old Sydney. I love partnering with brands who align with my values, and that I know you will love too.

Have you ever had a free day in beautiful Sydney and were wondering what some fun things to do in The Rocks would be? At the beginning of winter in Sydney this year, we had the exciting opportunity to spend a fun day in The Rocks with Holiday Inn Old Sydney. We got to see the sights around the historical Rocks area, enjoyed a high tea at the Tea Cosy cafe, visited The Rocks markets (where my lovely hubby bought me a bunch of flowers!), tried on some new clothes at DENHAM, checked out the modern Australian Art in Atty Gallery, smelt some gorgeously scented candles at DUX Collection, went up to the hotel rooftop to take in the 360 degree views of Circular Quay and the city, and then after a big day, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Playfair Terrace Restaurant in the Holiday Inn Old Sydney. We made a photo diary of our adventures during our fun day in the Rocks, I hope you enjoy it! Check out all the fun things to do in The Rocks, Sydney in the image gallery below.

If you want to spend a gorgeous day (and night!) right in the heart of The Rocks, then the family-friendly Holiday Inn Old Sydney is the place to stay. The location is so convenient, with all the best attractions literally on the doorstep of the hotel. Honestly, we’ve had so many family friends stay here too, and they always have the best time in Sydney because of it! You can check out all the latest deals here. Why not plan your stay today?

As a quick heads up to my readers, Holiday Inn Old Sydney is now offering a great value Winter Escape Package with up to 30% off!

The deal includes:

• Accommodation for two adults at Holiday Inn Old Sydney.
• Your choice of buffet breakfast for two OR hotel vehicle parking.
• Kids 12 and under eat and stay free.*

*Up to four kids ages 12 and under eat free any time of the day at Holiday Inn Old Sydney when dining with two paying adults. Children 12 years and under stay for free at Holiday Inn Old Sydney when sharing their parents room.

You can get the Winter Escape 30% off package right here.

The Tea Cosy Cafe is a quirky little cafe with a unique collection of teapots, tea cups and of course, tea cosies! We enjoyed a high tea in the vine-entwined courtyard garden out the back. Each table has a delightful basket of wool on it (so you can knit one, pearl one while you are waiting for your scones and tea to arrive). The babycino was a fun touch, with Alira being the most delighted by the chocolate swirls and sprinkles on top.

The Rocks Markets features an eclectic blend of local food products and local designer brands – not to mention the colourful market florist where my hubby picked up a bunch of flowers for me!

At DENHAM the Jeanmaker, we tried on some new clothes. Driven by the pioneering spirit of the original blue jean, DENHAM approach their design process with a passion for meticulous detail, and it shows in the superior cut of the clothes and quality of the fabric.

If you are an International tourist looking for some original Australian art featuring iconic Aussie animals with a colourful twist, then it’s worth checking out Atty Gallery by Sydney-based digital artist Graham Atwell. You can meet the artist himself at the gallery, and ask him about his creative process, or even “adopt” one of his animals to take home!

Upon entering the DUX Collection store we were greeted with the most luscious scents coming from their range of candles. My favourite was the Australian natural beeswax candles with Eucalyptus essential oil, a smell that I miss whenever I travel overseas for extended periods of time. These handcrafted candles would be the perfect gift or souvenir to bring home for international travellers – the scent of Australia! They also had a lovely range of natural skincare products and creams to try – my hands definitely felt softer after leaving the store!

Next on the list of fun things to do in The Rocks was to head back to the Holiday Inn Old Sydney, to check out the view from the hotel rooftop. The afternoon sunshine had just come out with perfect blue skies to match, so the view was absolutely breathtaking. You can see the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Circular Quay, the city CBD, Luna Park and all the Sydney Harbour surrounds with 360 degree views.

After our fun day exploring The Rocks, we rounded off our experience by enjoying a delicious dinner at the Playfair Terrace Restaurant on the mezzanine floor of the Holiday Inn Old Sydney. The chef cooked my salmon to perfection, and was happy to accommodate my gluten-free dairy-free dietary requirements (and he made Alira’s favourite – spaghetti!).