Mrs Macquarie's Chair
A sandstone bench on a headland, and the classic spot for photographing the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge together.
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is a bench carved from sandstone by convicts in 1810 for Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, so she could gaze out over the harbour and wait for ships from Britain. The headland where it sits, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, juts into Sydney Harbour. From here the Opera House and Harbour Bridge line up one behind the other in a postcard view, and it is especially beautiful at sunrise and during the blue hour. It is also a popular spot for watching New Year’s Eve fireworks, so you need to buy a ticket in advance or queue. It lies at the northeast end of the Royal Botanic Garden, about a 20-minute walk from the Opera House along the waterfront path. Entry is free.
Opening hours
All day (free)
Nearby sights
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
- Sydney Opera House
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Circular Quay
- The Rocks
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Hyde Park Barracks