Waterfront sights in Australia
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Circular Quay
Circular Quay is built around Sydney Cove and is considered by many to be the focal point of the city. The first European settlement in Australia grew around the Tank Stream, which now runs underground into the harbour here. For many years this was the shipping centre of Sydney, but it's now both a commuting hub and a recreational space.
Transport abounds - here you'll find ferry quays, a railway station and the Overseas Passenger Terminal. There are also harbour walkways, restaurants, buskers, parks and the Museum of Contemporary Art. And, of course, you can't miss the Sydney Opera House.
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Southgate
Southgate was the first shopping and dining complex built along the south bank of the Yarra, replacing billowing chimneystacks and saw-toothed factories. The complex joined its illustrious Southbank neighbours (the Arts Centre, Australian Ballet and Opera Australia) in the early ’90s. Southgate is well connected to the city via an arched footbridge, and riverside promenades run all the way west to the casino complex. You’ll find restaurants and cafés among the three levels of dining rooms that all enjoy a stellar outlook over the river and city. (Quality ranges from some of the city’s best to those simply after the tourist dollar.) Night transforms the skyline, wi…
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Gem Pier
Gem Pier is where passenger ferries dock to drop off and collect those who visit Williamstown by boat. It's a fitting way to arrive, given the area's maritime ambience. Williamstown Ferries (tel: 9506 4144; www.williamstownferries.com.au) plies across Hobsons Bay, stopping at Southgate (daily) and St Kilda (weekends), visiting a number of sites along the way, including Scienceworks and the Docklands.
Melbourne River Cruises (tel: 9629 7233; www.melbcruises.com.au) also docks at Gem Pier, travelling up the Yarra River to Southgate. Ticket prices vary according to your destination. Pick up a timetable from the visitors centre in Williamstown or at Federation Square, or con…
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Finger Wharf
A former wool and cargo dock, the anatomically named Finger Wharf faced oblivion for decades before a 2½-year demolition-workers’ green ban on the site in the late 1980s saved it. It received a huge sprucing up in the late ’90s and has emerged as one of Sydney’s most exclusive eating, drinking, sleeping and marina addresses. It’s still a public wharf, so feel free to explore the innards, past industrial conveyor-belt relics, the five-star hotel BLUE and its designery Water Bar. Along the way the wharf’s history is etched into glass walls. You might even squeeze in some star-spotting – cheesy songbird Delta Goodrem and everyman-megastar Russell Crowe have plush pa…
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Walsh Bay
This section of Millers Point waterfront was Sydney’s busiest before container shipping and the construction of new port facilities at Botany Bay. The last decade has seen the Federation-era wharves here gentrified beyond belief, morphing into luxury hotels, apartments, theatre spaces, power-boat marinas and restaurants. The self-guided 1.6km Walsh Bay Heritage Walk starts at Pier 2 and leads you through 11 stops, with interesting plaques and directions urging you onwards. Download a guide from the Walsh Bay website. Pier 4 houses the Wharf Theatre, home to the renowned Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
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Campbell’s Storehouses
In 1839, Scottish merchant Robert Campbell started building a private wharf and this gingerbread-style row of 11 storehouses to house his stash of tea, alcohol, sugar and fabric. Construction finished in 1861; a brick storey was added in 1890. Such storehouses were common around Circular Quay into the early 20th century, but most have been demolished. These survivors now sustain a string of pricey restaurants.
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King Street Wharf
Cockle Bay Wharf in ultramodern metal drag, the $800-million King St Wharf continues the Darling Harbour precinct north beyond Pyrmont Bridge – it’s a quieter, classier Darling Harbour around here. All the plush apartments are sold and the office space leased out, but you can still get a sniff of the high life downstairs at the waterfront bars and restaurants.
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Dawes Point
This waterfront was Sydney's busiest before the construction of new port facilities. Today, many wharves and warehouses around Dawes Point are in decay, though others have had the luxury waterfront apartment treatment. Wharf Theatre (also known as Pier 4) is home to the renowned Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
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Overseas Passenger Terminal
Multistorey luxury cruise ships weigh anchor at this architecturally dynamic terminal, disgorging hordes of shaky-legged tourists onto Circular Quay West – a slew of ultraflash drinking and dining establishments gives them somewhere to sit down. For a killer harbour view, head up to the level-four observation deck in the turret on the northern end.
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Franklin Wharf
Hobart's busy waterfront area, centred on Franklin Wharf, is a great place for a stroll. At Constitution Dock are several floating takeaway seafood stalls - it's an obligatory holiday activity to sit in the sun munching fresh fish and chips while watching the busy harbour (the docks also have some fine restaurants if you prefer something more formal).
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The Wharf
The Wharf is a little bit tacky, a little bit kitsch, but showcases one of Mooloolaba's biggest drawcards, Underwater World .
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