slothis · English

The Rocks Markets, Sydney: Is It Worth Visiting?

2015-06-03 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

I've often heard that you never know where connections might lead, and surprisingly, the ties just keep forming on this business trip.

The nature of this trip involves gathering with other companies to check if our development is heading in the right direction. Because of this, we end up meeting competitors, cautiously greeting each other, and even having lunch together. Since my manager, Mr. Yang, was there, I just chatted briefly with people from other companies during lunch and said my goodbyes when it was time to leave. To be honest, I just went through the motions, thinking I'd never see them again. As if to punish my snobbish thoughts, I ran into some of the meeting attendees again at the Opera Bar. I happened to spot 'A', a Korean woman (I'll use initials since I can't share names without permission), and 'J', a Chinese man, sipping cocktails at the bar. We were all too busy to pay attention to each other at work, but running into them while relaxing in a foreign city was so nice that I just sat right down next to them. We talked about our respective work lives, and since J had worked in Sydney, we caught up on what it's like living here. We ended up deciding to walk around together for about three hours until I had to meet Yong-wan. I had been wondering how to kill three hours by myself, so this was a huge relief for me. I don't know how they felt about it, though, haha.

The Rocks Markets

The next stop on the so-called 'J Tour' recommended by J was The Rocks Markets. I heard it was a market set up on a pedestrian-only street, but A, who had already traveled to Sydney before, cynically remarked, "It's just a car-free street like Insa-dong (a traditional neighborhood in Seoul)." I thought to myself, "But it's a market! Markets are where you feel the most human connection, where you go to meet the locals. Could it really be that bad?" With that in mind, the J Tour began.

A landscape showing high-rise buildings and boats floating on the sea beyond a palm tree-lined promenade.
The J Tour is a 100% walking tour.
An orange signpost indicating directions to nearby attractions such as The Rocks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
According to the two of them, combining the Royal Botanic Garden I saw earlier, the Opera House, and The Rocks makes for a great walking sightseeing course.
Inside a building with the phrase 'NOTHING IS EVER QUITE WHAT IT SEEMS' written on the stairs.
A quote written on the Museum of Contemporary Art we saw on the way. The quote made me want to go in, but I failed. We just kept walking on our way.
White tents lined up on the street in front of the Orient Hotel and a white car crossing the road.
Arrived at The Rocks Markets.
Small wooden train toys with alphabets written on them displayed on a table covered with a white cloth.
They mostly sell handicrafts like this or Chinese-made souvenirs.
People preparing food and people waiting under a white tent with a sign reading MUNICH Butcher.
None of us had eaten lunch, so we grabbed food as soon as we arrived. German food yesterday and today!
A vendor grilling skewers and people waiting for food under a tent with a menu board set up.
A black standing sign with sausage types and prices written in chalk.
Prices are around 8 or 10 dollars, but the line is incredibly long. It's the most popular among the street food stalls. It makes sense because once you catch a whiff of that grilling meat, you lose all reason and turn into a sausage zombie who only wants sausage.
A person wearing a blue striped apron is grilling sausages on a large iron griddle.
A box of sauce bottles and pretzels are placed on a stall covered with a blue checkered tablecloth.
A hot dog bun in a paper container filled with grilled onions and a sausage, topped with mustard sauce.
Well, eating a hot dog is pretty much the same everywhere. You get your hot dog, squirt on whatever sauces you see, and you're done.
A sign guiding to The Rocks Walking Tours and a shopping center hangs between the leaves.
Like Insa-dong... I mean, The Rocks Markets, walking is said to be the best way to tour.
Many people are walking along an outdoor market street lined with white tents.

To be honest, I understand why she was so cynical. Other than the fact that there are no cars, there really isn't anything that special. They call it a market, but all the goods were for tourists, and you couldn't feel the local vibe of Sydney people here. Still, squatting on the street to eat a German sausage gave me a little bit of that backpacking feeling rather than a business trip. Unfortunately, the only thing I remember about The Rocks Markets now is the sausage. It's definitely a good place to buy souvenirs, but it's not a must-visit spot.

The Rocks



#TheMarketWasJustOkay #StillLotsOfPeopleThough