Nurses Walk
The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
A warren of shops, cafés, and restaurants, Nurses Walk is a narrow laneway in Sydney’s historic The Rocks neighborhood. Like nearby Surgeons Court, its name honors the people who worked in a hospital on this site. Plaques celebrate pioneers including Lucy Osburn, who was trained by Florence Nightingale and is considered the founder of modern nursing in Australia.
The basics
Even though it's open to everyone, Nurses Walk isn’t a common stop on walking tours of The Rocks—which is a shame as it’s a very atmospheric laneway. Besides admiring the plaques—don’t miss the colorful characters depicted on the narrow walls of the Suez Canal at the north end—you can enjoy a coffee or a quick bite, or shop for goodies ranging from crystals, pewter, and art to cupcakes, local wine, and children’s clothes.
Things to know before you go
Nurses Walk is a nice diversion for wanderers exploring The Rocks.
Allow five minutes to stroll down the street and read the plaques, unless you’re shopping.
Nurses Walk is wheelchair-accessible, although some venues may not be.
How to get there
Nurses Walk is in The Rocks district of central Sydney. It runs parallel to George Street, from Globe Street in the south to Suez Canal in the north with a couple of entrances in between those points. From Sydney Central Station, catch the train or tram to Circular Quay and walk 800 feet (250 meters).
When to get there
Nurses Walk is open 24/7 but is more of a daytime laneway than a nighttime laneway. Stop by when you’re in the area rather than making a dedicated trip. Sydney's spring and summer run from September through March, and are ideal for outdoor exploration.
On the history trail in The Rocks
The Rocks was Australia’s original town center, where the First Fleet landed in 1788. You can get a taste of that history at the free Rocks Discovery Museum, housed in buildings dating back to 1844. Or you can soak up the atmosphere at spaces such as the Doss House, an underground whiskey bar housed in a 19th-century building that was once an opium dealer, or Sergeant Lok, a modern Asian restaurant in a defiantly classical former police station.
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