Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Totally recommend this place for a quick stroll or just to kill your time watching the harbour and the water. It’s peaceful and the water and greenery totally give you the vibes. Perfect for a quick getaway. There are not many things to do, but if you want to have some quality time, this might be the place.

It’s a tremendously long walk from public transport, but all so worth the journey, as it offers what can only be described as the most complete scenic spot for all the tourist highlights of Sydney. There were only a few people at the tip of the chair when I arrived so I got to take as much photos as I wanted, but the views in itself were just as magnificent. You get to see not only the harbour but also the surrounding suburbs and coastlines. It’s truly a perspective to behold every time.

This place is a hidden gem! There’s always plenty of parking available, which makes it super convenient to visit, even on busy days. It’s very pram friendly, so it’s perfect for families with little ones. The amazing views are definitely the highlight whether you’re strolling or just stopping to admire the scenery, it’s absolutely stunning. It’s also a great spot for a relaxing walk with well-maintained paths. To top it off, there’s a lovely little café where you can grab a slushy, coffee, or a delicious pastry to enjoy. Highly recommend for a peaceful day out!

I have been meaning to make it here for a while and am so glad I did. The best harbour views for the public by far. I walked through the Royal Botanic Gardens after catching the Metro to Martin Place. Hot tip: there is a coffee van waiting at the end. 😎

Fantastic viewpoint overlooking Farm Cove and taking in a great view of the Opera House and Bridge. A wonderful walk through the Royal Botanic gardens makes the spectacle even more impressive.

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is a must-visit location, offering some of the most stunning views in Sydney. From this vantage point, you can see the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge perfectly framed together—a breathtaking sight, especially during the New Year’s Eve fireworks! The scenic walk from the Opera House along Sydney Harbour to the Chair is lovely, with beautiful waterfront views and lush greenery. It’s an ideal spot for photography, relaxation, or simply soaking in the beauty of the harbor. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike!

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, is a historic sandstone bench hand-carved by convicts in 1810 for Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s wife, Elizabeth. Known for her love of the area, Mrs. Macquarie would often sit and watch the ships sail into the harbour from this vantage point.  Visitor Experience Situated within The Domain parklands, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, the site offers panoramic views of iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s a popular spot for both tourists and locals, especially during events like New Year’s Eve, when it serves as a prime location for viewing fireworks displays.  Access and Amenities Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is easily accessible by foot, car, or public transport. The surrounding area features walking paths, gardens, and picnic spots, making it ideal for leisurely visits. Facilities such as restrooms and refreshment kiosks are available nearby. Tips for Visitors • Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon offers cooler temperatures and optimal lighting for photography. • Events: During major events, the area can become crowded, so arriving early is advisable. • Safety: While the site is generally safe, always stay aware of your surroundings, especially near the water’s edge. In summary, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair combines historical significance with breathtaking views, making it a must-visit destination for those exploring Sydney.

The view is unbeatable. A place you must visit if you're in Sydney. I suggest going at sunset, so you can take photos during the day and at night.

Totally recommend this place for a quick stroll or just to kill your time watching the harbour and the water. It’s peaceful and the water and greenery totally give you the vibes. Perfect for a quick getaway. There are not many things to do, but if you want to have some quality time, this might be the place.

It’s a tremendously long walk from public transport, but all so worth the journey, as it offers what can only be described as the most complete scenic spot for all the tourist highlights of Sydney. There were only a few people at the tip of the chair when I arrived so I got to take as much photos as I wanted, but the views in itself were just as magnificent. You get to see not only the harbour but also the surrounding suburbs and coastlines. It’s truly a perspective to behold every time.

This place is a hidden gem! There’s always plenty of parking available, which makes it super convenient to visit, even on busy days. It’s very pram friendly, so it’s perfect for families with little ones. The amazing views are definitely the highlight whether you’re strolling or just stopping to admire the scenery, it’s absolutely stunning. It’s also a great spot for a relaxing walk with well-maintained paths. To top it off, there’s a lovely little café where you can grab a slushy, coffee, or a delicious pastry to enjoy. Highly recommend for a peaceful day out!

I have been meaning to make it here for a while and am so glad I did. The best harbour views for the public by far. I walked through the Royal Botanic Gardens after catching the Metro to Martin Place. Hot tip: there is a coffee van waiting at the end. 😎

Fantastic viewpoint overlooking Farm Cove and taking in a great view of the Opera House and Bridge. A wonderful walk through the Royal Botanic gardens makes the spectacle even more impressive.

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is a must-visit location, offering some of the most stunning views in Sydney. From this vantage point, you can see the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge perfectly framed together—a breathtaking sight, especially during the New Year’s Eve fireworks! The scenic walk from the Opera House along Sydney Harbour to the Chair is lovely, with beautiful waterfront views and lush greenery. It’s an ideal spot for photography, relaxation, or simply soaking in the beauty of the harbor. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike!

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, is a historic sandstone bench hand-carved by convicts in 1810 for Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s wife, Elizabeth. Known for her love of the area, Mrs. Macquarie would often sit and watch the ships sail into the harbour from this vantage point.  Visitor Experience Situated within The Domain parklands, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, the site offers panoramic views of iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s a popular spot for both tourists and locals, especially during events like New Year’s Eve, when it serves as a prime location for viewing fireworks displays.  Access and Amenities Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is easily accessible by foot, car, or public transport. The surrounding area features walking paths, gardens, and picnic spots, making it ideal for leisurely visits. Facilities such as restrooms and refreshment kiosks are available nearby. Tips for Visitors • Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon offers cooler temperatures and optimal lighting for photography. • Events: During major events, the area can become crowded, so arriving early is advisable. • Safety: While the site is generally safe, always stay aware of your surroundings, especially near the water’s edge. In summary, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair combines historical significance with breathtaking views, making it a must-visit destination for those exploring Sydney.

The view is unbeatable. A place you must visit if you're in Sydney. I suggest going at sunset, so you can take photos during the day and at night.

"Mrs Macquarie's Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie's Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales." - Wikipedia Located near the Royal Botanic Gardens, this is a great landmark to view the Syndey Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I recommend jogging around the whole gardens and taking a break at/around Mrs Macquarie's Chair to take in the air and scenery.

Great views of Sydney Harbour from this location. If you're walking and don't know what you're looking for you can miss it. The monument is an unmarked and simple concrete seat, but it plainly says Mrs Macquarie's Road... on it. Easy place to sit and relax, maybe not the best views on the peninsula, but it's peaceful enough. Plenty of flora around, the sounds of the harbour and water are evident. You are within a quarter mile of the Botanical Gardens on one side and Art Gallery of NSW on the other.

We followed the signs along the waterfront :15 minutes from the Opera House to Mrs. Maguires bench which is carved into rocks from 1816. Here we had the best views of the bridge, opera house, ships... It was very cool how over 200 years ago a bench & inscription were carved into rocks here.

Lovely view of the opera house and the iconic bridge downtown. Unfortunately if you want to see this view at sunset you will have to endure mosquitoes or sandflies in this wooded area that will attack your legs and possibly hands, too. Ouch! If you think it's just a short walk from the restaurants down on the wharf you are mistaken! It is a bit of a trek and there aren't any signs pointing to it on foot. The locals who walk their dogs and go for jogs around here are friendly and will point you in the right direction.

It's like a tombstone with steps in front of the engraved stone. I'm unsure if it's rude to sit on the steps for a picture or even prohibited. It's a great mark on the path to the Opera house as well as a looker in the Royal Gardens. Pleasant stroll through and green scene to take in. People were taking pics of the views from this stone, running through, strolling by and sitting in wooden benches in the surrounding area. Simple Stone Chair with a historical significance, surely.

Excellent views of the ocean & scenery! Our family loved taking pictures here and the ability to walk by the water from the Botanical garden to the Sydney Opera house was breathtaking!

It's about the journey, not the destination. The walk to get to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is a rewarding one, with an amazing view of the city, opera house, and bridge. Whip out those cameras cause it's about to get beautiful. The chair itself has historical significance, which is cool enough, but it's the view that you see that makes the whole journey worth taking. Yes, it's just a chair, but it's also so much more. A must see in Sydney!

Mrs. Macquarie's chair is really the nickname of the peninsula - Mrs Macquarie's Point. Located on the right hand side of the Point, Mrs Macquarie's chair was hand carved into the exposed sandstone rock: forming a bench by convicts in 1810 for Governor Macquarie's wife Elizabeth. Every morning between 9.00 and 11.00 a.m., buses of tourists flock to this area for that famous 'bucket list' photograph. My tip is that if you aren't in a tour group, visit this area around 2pm - 4.00pm. After that, the place fills up again with photographers wanting to take the sunset shot. The view from here is nothing more than spectacular. It is the view that the world sees in all Sydney promotional shots - combining the Opera House sails and the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a background. What ever time of day, the view is majestic. My favourite time of day is watching the sunset. Usually on a clear day the sunsets here are a photographers delight. A food caravan provides limited refreshments such as coffee, teas and Aussie meat pies!

This is one of the best places in Sydney for a stunning view of the harbour, particularly on a sunny day! Located near the Royal Botanical Gardens, this is an amazing site for a picnic or a walk!

The iconic Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and a beautiful sunset are three components that make up the classic "postcard picture" for Sydney. Although you'll hardly find a bad angle of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, I believe Mrs Macquarie's Chair offers one of the best viewing spots of the two. Take an afternoon walk around Circular Quay, stroll around the perimeter of the Opera House, and take in the light breeze from the water as you walk along the peninsula to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for the perfect vantage point in Sydney. The walk is about 2.5 km from Circular Quay, but it's worth the effort. If you're a visitor, take in the picturesque view and appreciate the beauty. And if you live in Sydney, be envied by all. Mrs Macquarie's Chair truly is an amazing lookout worth a few hours' visit.

It took us a while to reach but was worth the walk via the beautiful botanical garden! Stunning visuals of the harbour bridge and the opera house!!! Bathrooms on the lowest level were clearly marked but were located on a higher altitude and were quite difficult to spot!

One of the best views in the city of the harbor! This is where you should go if you want to take that post card perfect picture of the opera house and bridge. There is nice walking trails to get there and places to sit and enjoy the view!

THE Place to go for spectacular views across Sydney harbour and the only place to go if your seeking that picture perfect postcard photo. I would highly recommend it for sunset

I'm not really sure how I can rate this place namely because it is basically a bench that was carved out of the rock by some early convicts so that the governor's wife has a nice place to sit. Okay, it is a site of historic significance, though that a stone bench really thrills me all that much. Still it does seem to be quite popular because everytime I come here it seems to be crowded with tourists all taking photos of people sitting on it (which makes it really, really difficult to take a photo of it without anybody else in the shot). What it cool about the place is the really nice walk you take to get here (though some people come by bus which I have to say is really, really boring - go for the walk). The end result may not be all that impressive, but the journey there certainly is.

"Whose chair?" that was my husbands reaction when I said we were going Mrs Macquarie's Chair. We were on our way to Mrs Macquarie's Point, hopefully, to get a nice view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Couple of buses (did I tell you how much I like the public transportation in Australia?, well its amazing) and short walk later, we were at the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was reminiscent of the Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada, a huge garden and park in the middle of the city. We strolled around a bit and made our way to the Mrs Macquarie's point! During our walk to the Mrs Macquarie's Point, we had to take some detours as there was construction work going on for New Years! The walk ended in, what seemed to be the end tip of the island. We didn't see the chair (actually, we didn't bother to look for it), we saw people looking over the bay gawking at the Opera House, photographers setting up there tripods and some just taking a stroll. There was a cold breeze flowing from the bay, it was strong enough to knock our tripods off but rather pleasant enough for us to stand, enjoy it and take in the view ahead. It's one of the best places to see the panoramic view of the Sydney's iconic performing arts venue with the Harbour bridge in the background. "This is the place to be during New Years!" I quipped. Boy was I wrong, you need to pony up $400+ to get to this place to get the view. As the dusk descended to darkness, we made our way back, "We should come back here again".. And we did, to watch the New Year fireworks.

Mrs Macquarie's Chair is not a chair! Well it's a bench, hand-carved into the sandstone for the Governer's missus in the early 1800's by slaves (AKA convicts) so that she could admire the panoramic view of the harbour in somewhat rocky comfort. What a bitch! This site is famous for it's unfettered view of the Sydney harbour Bridge and Opera House (neither of which of course existed during Mrs Mac's reign). A popular spot for various events, open air cinemas and what-not. I was there for a photography exhibition/magazine launch and my extremely stressfull week melted away completely while I enjoyed a few cocktails, fabulous tunes and the evening air over Sydney Harbour. You can do the same with a ghetto blaster and an esky... just sayin'.

The views from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair are stunning. It is one of the best vantage points to see the Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House at the same time. The surrounding area is really pretty as well. It is absolutely worth the walk. 4 stars.

So ummm...please don't kill me but isn't it just a chair? The view is absolutely fantastic though! Beautiful view of the harbour which includes the Sydney Opera House. The surrounding area is pretty nice...but I must be missing something...sorry!

Didn't know what this place was about but keep seeing it pop up on places to check out so I came... I was expecting a "chair" of some sort but found a tree and a plague... @.@ Saw a bunch of photographers with all their gear and it dawned on me what this place is all about. LOLz! It gives you a very nice view of Sydney Harbour and where some of the famous photographs were shot! Even if you are not crazy about taking photos, it is still nice to have a walk here. Very relaxing and pretty.

This is an absolutely picturesque spot for, well, anything really. It's the little peninsula that juts out from the mainland, when you go past the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House on the way to Manly by ferry. I always looked at it in awe at its natural beauty until my dad mentioned that we had actually been there! In the mood for a stroll? There is no better place in Sydney to stroll through. The grounds are beautiful and expansive, the history is rich and accessible, and best of all, you won't encounter the general riff-raff that is spread throughout the city (probably..). Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is named after the bit of rock (sandstone, really) that is carved out to make a sort of bench or chair, for the erstwhile Governer of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie's wife to sit on and watch the ships sail into the Harbour. What a charming history! It offers spectacular views of the Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, so you'll get lots of photographers and possibly tourists for company, but it's never crowded. It's always serene and beautiful, which is why I love it. It's well worth a visit.

One of my "must-see" locations for anyone visiting Sydney - you just can't get a better view. Even if you can't make it down during the daytime, it's worth visiting at night to see the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and CBD lit-up. If you stay in the city, and like running, make sure to run down through Circular Quay to the Opera House, along the water through the Botanical Gardens, out to Mrs Macquarie's Chair - probably the most scenic daily workout you can possibly do!

We strolled past Mrs Macquarie's Chair on a walk from Kings Cross all the way down to Circular Quay. The route is stunning, with beautiful views and greenery the whole way along the coast. I'm a keen runner, and wish I'd had time to jog along the Harbour front (a poplular route), because it really was spectacular. Built by a previous governor for his wife at her favourite spot, Mrs Macquarie's Chair is carved out of stone and provides a bit of history as well as a beautiful view over Sydney Harbour. It does attract a lot of tourists, and given that the seat itself is not huge, this does mean that you'll only get a short window to sit on the chair and have your picture taken, if you visit on a weekend at least. I also found that the view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House (which had not been built at the time of Mrs Macquarie and her governor husband!) was better if you walked a little further towards the Harbour. However, the walk along the front of Mrs Macquarie's Point is an absolute must.

Take your mum, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your sisters Aunts friend. Friends of the family, the neighbours, work colleagues, vague acquittance's, mortal enemies, the dog. All will bask in the splendiferous vantage point offered by Mrs Macquarie's, Chair. Recommend you approach from Woolloomooloo for the real deep impact of rounding the headline to be presented with the Opera House and coat hanger...

There is no better way to while away a nice afternoon than a leisurely stroll through the Botannical Gardens to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. You can soak up some of Sydney's best waterfront and basically just enjoy what Sydney does best, pretty water views. Pack a picnic lunch and stay a while it's just a lovely peaceful spot and there's an endless stream of great people watching to keep you occupied should the view somehow get boring.

You can see why Mrs Macquarie liked having a sit down around here - it's an extremely picturesque view of the harbour. Imagine if the Harbour Bridge and Opera House had been around back then, she would've built a house there so she didn't have to leave (and then sold it for millions of $$). Probably. I did spend quite a while trying to work out where she used to actually sit and in the end I just assumed she sat everywhere just to mix it up a bit, but apparently the big lump of sandstone is where she used to park herself. Which I find rather odd, considering that would've blocked her view east! Maybe she didn't like the east as much. Nowadays, you can just wander around, and during the summer months, they have the outdoor cinema with the screen situated in the actual harbour on a flotilla of some sort. But if you want tickets for that, you have to be quick. Apparently watching a movie while sitting outside on a warm evening looking out onto Sydney's fantastic night-time skyline and two of the most iconic man-made objects in the world, is quite an attractive proposition. Go figure! Mrs Mac's Chair is right next to the Botanical Gardens so if you're going for a walk to one, you may as well take in the other! It'll be worth it.

Charming historical landmark nestled along the Royal Botanical Gardens. Wonderful places like these show the charm and simplicity of Sydney. A wonderful site to sit and really appreciate your surroundings. There are two carved bench areas. The actual "chair" is the one with the engraved carving. It's not the most comfortable chair, but it was nice to sit and rest for a bit while walking through the area. The vantage point of the actual chair gives you a wonderful view of the harbour. As I sat there, I imagined what it might have been like for Mrs. (Lady) Macquarie to sit and watch the ships come in and out of the harbour. Of course, it would have looked much different that the large metropolis Sydney has become. A short walk away from the chair, you can view the large buildings of the city center and the opera house. I was so fascinated that I could have sat there for days. There is something about that area that just seemed to cast a spell on me.

Is there anything in Australia that isn't named after Macquarie? There's a uni, a dictionary, a bank, a street (coincidentally synonymous with random scandals state politicians surrender to on the odd occasion), a shopping centre, a cinema, an ice-rink, a group, a hotel, an island, a suburb with a park, a telco, a community college, a mint, a leasing etc. You name it, we've got it. Oh, and then there was Lachlan. Lachlan Macquarie that is, a Scottish chap (also called MacGuaire), who happened to be a British army officer lucky enough to become colonial administrator during Australia's early days. Most notably he was the "last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony." (thanks Wikipedia I couldn't have worded that better). He was our father (so his tombstone says). Ok, I'll stop here. Lachlan's wife, Elizabeth left almost as many impressions on the modern history of Australia and its remnants: Two streets, a bay, a farm, three suburb (Elizabeth Bay and Cambelltown, Airds), a town (Appin) and, well, a chair. Not just any chair, but a landmark and something that is often mumbled into one word in true-blue Aussie lingo as Missmacquarieschair (and you thought Germans had long, stringed names - oh nobody really makes a linguistic distinction here between Mrs and Miss). Personally, I like to call it Mrs. Mac's Lair, but that might sound a bit raunchy and something that rather belongs to The Cross (Kings Cross that is). Maybe. As a location, the lair, pardon chair, is a pretty nice spot to experience Sydney, and not a place to be missed, even if you're just visiting the emerald city. Not only do you get to view coathanger and the sails that make the Opera House, Garden island and Fort Denison, but you get to enjoy it Mrs. Macquarie style, where legend has it that she used to watch ships form good old Britain coming and going, while convicts built the colony. What can YOU do here today? Enjoy the scenery and the atmosphere! Not many ships from good old Britain coming in these days anymore though.

An absolute must for anyone who wants to see both Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from one spot. Not only it is a great spot for photography, but also for running or biking tracks. I have been running along Mrs Macquarie's Chair every week at lunchtime and I never get bored of doing it. I have visited this place at night as well to practice my night photography.

I write this review from a runner's point of view. This is one of my favourite running courses as an after work sunset run. Its beautiful and you literally go past most of Sydney's famous icons. It goes like this: 1. Start off at Sydney Hospital at the edge of the Domain. 2. Run through the Domain, then past the Art Gallery and then veer to the left as you enter Mrs Macquarie's Chair. 3. You will face two options - continue up on the main road, or go down a short flight of stairs and continue around the water's edge. Take the second option - if you look across you will see Cockatoo Island and the navy ships. 4. At you near the tip, the path goes up a hill and then a sharp downhill as you turn the corner - this is your first glimpse of the Harbour Bridge! 5. Continue along the water's edge which will merge into the Botanic Gardens. There is an option to stop and do interval stair training on your left - run up and down the steep stairs as many times as you dare! I usually do 1-2 times. 6. Continue along the shoreline until you reach the Opera House. Usually around this time, there aren't that many people (apart from other runners!) and you can do a lap around the Opera House and then run back to the same path to the Botanic Gardens. 7. Continue back and you have 2 options - take a right at the water bubbler and run through the Botanic Gardens and back to the Domain to finish your run. This is a bit less than 4kms. Second option is to run on the original path and then run up a sharp right incline - this will take you back up the main Mrs Macquarie's Chair road. Turn left on the main road and do as many laps of the 'Chair' as you want - I usually do around 2. 8. Then as you run back towards the Art Gallery, you have an option to run down the stairs and run to the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo. Just an option :) 9. Otherwise run past the Art Gallery and either continue to Hyde Park or take a left through the large grassy area, cross the road and you reach the back of St Mary's Cathedral. Continue til you reach the stairs of Cook Phillip Aquatic Centre. Nearly there! 10. Run finishes as you run towards Hyde Park at the big fountain. 11. FINISH! This is around 6-7km depending on the options. Overall a beautiful Sydney run. Enjoy! :)

while the actual chair itself is more historical than anything else, the view of sydney from this place is INCOMPARABLE where else are you going to find fantastically free photo ops for the opera house, the harbour bridge, and the bayfront?! all the icons of the city can be appreciated from here~^^ go at sunset and you can take some gorgeous photos~ ~*~ :bonus: i wandered around the lot and found this really cool beachy/rocky overhang~ enjoy!^^